Crazy rich Indians: Luxury concierge firms are taking on several out-of-the-world requests from country's ultra-wealthy
As India's ultra-rich multiply, so do their demands — often extravagant, sometimes eccentric, almost always urgent.
Enter luxury concierge firms: Discrete operators who turn outlandish requests into seamless reality. From last-minute seats at Wimbledon to a seven-temple darshan spanning multiple states in a single day, these lifestyle fixers specialise in the improbable.
Armed with global networks and a don't-ask-how attitude, they cater to a clientele that values access over price, privacy over publicity.
For them, no request is too bizarre, no deadline too tight. Discreet, well-connected and almost impossibly efficient, they can pull strings few even knew existed. Here's a glimpse into this rarefied world where the extraordinary is simply standard service.
THOSE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
Live Events
VIJAYA EASTWOOD
'Luxury today isn't just about having more — it's about choosing better,' says Vijaya Eastwood, CEO of CribLife, a homegrown concierge and private family office firm that works with over 15,000 ultra-high-net-worth families — both directly and through white-labelled partnerships with India's most prestigious private wealth banks and curated, invite-only credit card platforms. Their Rs 12-lakh-plus annual memberships offer global lifestyle navigation across deeply personal and highstakes moments: From IVF journeys in London, to celebrity and world leader– led dinners, international relocations, cross-border business liaisoning and education pathways.
'What truly matters is the kind of outcome that stays with you — whether it's emotional, personal or professional. Experiences that shift something in your world. That's the real value,' she adds.
MISHTI BOSE
An emotional edge is at the heart of Quintessentially India, a new-age travel concierge. According to CEO Mishti Bose, 2025 will see a spike in private villa takeovers, wellness-led escapes, and sports-driven itineraries. 'There's a clear shift towards intentional, immersive and ultrapersonalised experiences,' she notes.
Whether it's a private island for a 50th birthday or a bespoke Wimbledon experience with VIP access, Indian UHNIs are no longer just visiting places — they are curating experiences.
MANOJ ADLAKHA
Wellness, in particular, is emerging as the new indulgence. Manoj Adlakha, founder and CEO of RedBeryl, calls it 'the ultimate aspiration'. His 700-member strong firm operates across 85 Indian cities and 25 international hubs, offering access to over 3,300 private clubs, 1,800 Michelin-starred restaurants and 15,000 luxury hotels. 'When you have already acquired the best, what you seek is clarity, longevity and balance,' he says.
Think forest immersion retreats in Kyoto, cellular regeneration in Swiss clinics, or closer home, naturopathy, yoga and healing therapies in Visakhapatnam or slow travel through Kerala's backwaters.
NITIN MOHAN SRIVASTAVA
Luxury is also turning inwards. Pinch, a concierge platform focused on home, wellness, and daily living, sees luxury in subtler forms. 'Luxury means different things to different people,' says Nitin Mohan Srivastava, founder and CEO, Pinch. 'The modern customer is craving slowness, not speed; connection, not consumption.'
Pinch has arranged everything from flamencoseason tables at Corral de la Morería to a glamping trip to reconnect a busy mother with her son.
'True luxury is the absence of microstress… when life flows without friction, when you can be present without planning — that's what people remember,' he adds.
KARAN BHANGAY
Adding to this evolving ecosystem is Indulge Global, which curates hyperpersonalised experiences across categories. 'Beyond the traditional markers of opulence, today's Indian UHNWIs and HNWIs are looking for deeper meaning, absolute discretion and highly personalised engagement,' says co-founder Karan Bhangay.
'Privacy and exclusivity are now baseline expectations — whether it's a secluded island retreat, a private preview of a collectible, or a bespoke culinary experience at home.' Bhangay notes that purpose-driven luxury is rising. 'Clients want their experiences to reflect their personal values — be it sustainability, wellness, heritage or social impact. They are seeking more than status — they want meaningful, memorable experiences tailored to their individuality and conscience.'
FOLLOW THE MONEY
The concierge economy is following the money. That means the hunger for curated experiences is no longer limited to Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru. Both CribLife and RedBeryl report a sharp uptick in demand from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where families are equally global in mindset and aspiration. 'Many are buying second or third homes, not as rentals, but to create intentional roots,' says Eastwood. Adlakha points to the numbers: India's tier-2 and tier-3 markets hold $26.4 trillion in household income.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
17 minutes ago
- India.com
Fact Check: Virat Kohli Caught Smoking? Viral Image Sparks Debate on Social Media - Here's The Truth Behind The Picture
Amidst a quiet phase following his retirement from Test cricket and India's T20 World Cup 2024 win, Virat Kohli has unexpectedly found himself trending again — this time for all the wrong reasons. A photo has gone viral on social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the legendary Indian cricketer was seen smoking a cigarette. The image quickly spread across the internet, triggering debate and confusion among fans. With Kohli not making any public appearances since Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic IPL 2025 triumph, the viral photo added fuel to fan speculation. Do u think he is really smoking ? @grok Hiding in X (@DHarsHaDr) June 29, 2025 blud started smoking, looks like he wasn't able to cope with the loses of 11 lives lost in chinnaswamy stampede ex. capt (@thephukdi) June 28, 2025 Is this Virat Kohli? Is he smoking??? — Sai (@TheDiaryofSai) June 28, 2025 Fact Check Is It Virat Or Not? Contrary to online claims, the man in the image is not Virat Kohli. The viral picture is not even new. It originally surfaced in 2023 and again in March 2024, causing similar confusion back then. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the individual in the image is Pawan Kumar, a known lookalike of Virat Kohli. The photo was taken at the One8 Commune restaurant in Bengaluru, which is owned by Kohli himself. Pawan Kumar was seen smoking hookah, leading to the mistaken identity. This is not the first time Kumar's resemblance to Kohli has misled fans, but the confusion was cleared by fact-checkers and fan pages shortly after the image first went viral over a year ago. Virat Kohli: A Disciplined Athelete Virat Kohli is well-known for his disciplined lifestyle. He has consistently maintained a strict fitness regime and publicly spoken against smoking and drinking. Kohli transformed his physique over the years and credited his clean lifestyle for helping him extend his playing career at the highest level. His commitment to fitness and wellness has also inspired many young athletes to follow suit. In interviews, he has emphasized how dietary discipline and workout consistency were pivotal in his success. Post-IPL Silence and Fan Curiosity After leading RCB to their first-ever IPL title in 2025, Kohli has kept a low profile. His silence became even more prominent after the tragic Bengaluru victory parade stampede, which claimed 11 lives. Since then, Kohli hasn't made any public statements or appearances. This low visibility, coupled with his Test and T20I retirements, has left fans eagerly awaiting his next move particularly in the ODI format, which is now his sole focus in international cricket.
Economic Times
17 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Time to polish our public sector ratnas: Creating an Indian sovereign wealth fund to recast jewels
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Traditional Routes of Privatisation: Limited Success Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Learning from Singapore: The Temasek Model A Case for India's Temasek: Transforming NIIF Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Model: Ownership Transfer, Commercial Management A Pragmatic, Politically Smart Path (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) In May 2020, as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, the Indian government unveiled a bold new Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) policy. Building on that announcement, the Union Budget of February 1, 2021, laid out a detailed blueprint, categorising sectors into two:Strategic sectors, where the government would retain only a bare minimum presence, andNon-strategic sectors, where all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) would be privatised or marked a tectonic shift in India's approach to public sector enterprises- a clear intent to significantly reduce the government's footprint in business. While implementation is underway, progress has been uneven. This note proposes a bold, agile framework to fast-track the privatisation India has predominantly relied on strategic sales since the 1991 liberalisation era divesting 50% or more equity along with management control. However, another way of privatisation is public market offerings i.e. selling shares of CPSEs to retail and institutional investors. This method was famously deployed by Margaret Thatcher's UK government during its privatisation drive of British Telecom, British Gas, and British India, the strategic sale model has yielded mixed results. The successful sale of Air India came after years of delays. Meanwhile, marquee targets such as BPCL, Shipping Corporation, and IDBI Bank have faced hurdles. BPCL's disinvestment , announced in 2019, was shelved in 2022 as bidders withdrew, the government decided to hit pause to the disinvestment: a prudent decision prioritising value over sales are often complex, politically sensitive, and time-consuming, limiting their effectiveness as the default path to third approach is Singapore's model: move the ownership to an SWF, then sell faced a similar challenge as India in the 1970s, dozens of government-owned enterprises across critical sectors, struggling under state management. The solution was to create Temasek Holdings, the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Singapore which was established in 1974 as a professionally run, wholly government-owned investment company. Temasek operates with full autonomy, managed by an independent board of professionals and free from political interference. It holds and grows equity in state-owned enterprises on commercial principles. Many of these entities are now listed and globally competitive, contributing to a portfolio exceeding US$301 India is not Singapore, the core principle of insulating commercial decisions from political control is powerful and has attempted some separation by routing disinvestment decisions through DIPAM. However, this still functions within the government's bureaucratic framework. What India truly needs is a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that can own and manage public assets is where the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) enters: India's quasi-sovereign investment vehicle, created in 2015, where the government holds a 49% stake. With assets of over $5 billion across infrastructure, growth equity, and fund-of-funds, NIIF already has the structure to become India's Temasek saw potential in NIIF, investing $400 million in 2018. It now needs a wider mandate that would allow it to become the Indian government could begin by transferring its stakes in select PSEs to NIIF, receiving fund units in exchange. The state would retain economic interest while stepping away from operational PSEs would then be run under professional governance standards, free from day-to-day political interference. Over time, NIIF could gradually dilute its stake in these enterprises in the market when conditions are favourable creating a steady revenue stream for the government, rather than volatile, one-time government could begin with minority stakes transfer, building credibility and demonstrating value creation, and eventually reduce its holding below 51% as per Atmanirbhar Bharat stealth-privatisation model i.e. first shifting ownership to NIIF, then progressively privatizing, shields the process from political turbulence while ensuring the commercial interests of the state are provides PSEs with the time, autonomy, and resources to restructure and become market-ready, aligning with the 2021 policy objective of one strategic PSE per Thomas Jefferson aptly put it, 'That government is best which governs least.' It's time we let our Ratna shine with the polish of professionalism, and free them from the weight of the state's hand.
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ananya Panday to Cate Blanchett: Mermaid core is back in trend!
Summer might be ending, but beachy vibes are having a major moment. The mermaidcore aesthetic with seashell outfits, necklaces and hair accessories has taken over wardrobes this season. This aesthetic gives off major beach salt air vibes, and it is reminiscent of the past, going as far back as the 1930s, and now it has resurfaced with different accessories as well. Ananya Panday, Taylor Hill and Cate Blanchett in the mermaidcore aesthetic.(Photos: Instagram) Celebs including actors Ananya Panday, Cate Blanchett, singer Alicia Keys and model Taylor Hill are riding the wave — the most recent being Scarlett Johansson's delicate white moment at a movie premiere. Brands are taking note, too. Design house Chloe led the charge with seashell earrings from their SS25 collection. Designer Anikate Satam reflects, 'Mermaid or aquatic themes have been quite recurrent for the past few years, almost like a summer must-have season after season. Mermaid core's appeal lies in its escapism. A little flight of fancy from your mundane life. It's also deeply rooted in our nostalgia as millennials growing up watching reruns of The Little Mermaid during summer vacation." Dip a toe in The possibilities for incorporating fun aquatic elements like shells, starfish or jellyfish in day-to-day wear are endless. 'For accessories, choose simple fish-inspired earrings or seashell necklaces,' says stylist Isha Bhansali. For outfits, look for mermaid-style tapers, accented with ruffles that accentuate movement. These cuts, Isha notes, are flattering and complement Indian wear like lehengas well. Styled by the sea 'If you wish to add subtle nuances without going overboard, you can play with fabric. Lightweight materials like chiffon and silk mirror the gentle movement of waves and can be used for a variety of outfits,' designer Supria Munjal tells us. To really lean into the mermaid aesthetic, she suggests soft blues, lilacs, pearly whites, and seafoam greens. For something bolder, go full-out on the drama with sequins, satin and jewel tones.
