In the Pink

While she is truly to the manor born, Upasana Kamineni of the Apollo Hospitals group is keen on making her own way. She talks to Neeti Jaychander about her big plans.

- Neeti Jaychander

Erudite, witty and focussed, Upasana Kamineni balances the claims of not one, but two huge legacies. Her grandfather Dr Prathap C Reddy is the founder of the Apollo Hospitals empire, while her father-in-law Chiranjeevi and husband Ram Charan are superstars in the Telugu film industry. But Kamineni’s ambition is distinctly her own—to bring wellness to rural and urban India, using a creative new approach. Excerpts from her interview with Femina:

Did you always know you wanted to work in the family business?

Well, my grandfather, my father and m y aunts were a huge influence, and thatha (grandfather) would even bring me into meetings. But as I entered my teens, a sort of rebellion set in. So I decided I wanted to get into fashion, but I soon realised that I was a better shopper than designer. My dad always told me, ‘Even if you become a ditch digger, make sure you are the best’. I had the option of doing whatever I wanted, but I always wanted to come back. Very few people have this great background and are given this opportunity, so I needed to do something and give back to society.

You spearhead the wellness wing of the business, Apollo Life. Tell us a little about it.