Lodha vs Lodha: Brothers slug it out over who gets to use the big brand name

INSIDERS SAY, THE LITIGATION MOVED BY ABHISHEK IN JANUARY IS A CONSEQUENCE TO ABHINANDAN'S COMPANY ACQUIRING THE AMERICAN CENTRE, AT NEW MARINE LINES, AT ₹55.98 CRORE IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2024

- Ateeq Shaikh

MUMBAI: In Mumbai's overheated realty firmament, the Lodhas are one of the brightest names but now the fight between the two brothers -- Abhishek, 45, and Abhinandan, 43 -- over the brand name has become the talk of town.

The dramatis personae at the heart of the controversy are the two brothers, their father Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and state minister for skill development and entrepreneurship, and the patriarch who started the realty business in 1980, and their mother Manju, who is torn between her "Ram and Lakshman".

While other India Inc families in realty -- the Hiranandanis, Rahejas and Godrejs -- managed smooth operations after a strategized split, the Lodha story is fraught.

As old gives way to new The Lodha Group, renamed Macrotech Developers in 2019, made it to the GROHE-Hurun India Real Estate top 100 list the second time in 2024, now holding the second spot after DLF, with a combined wealth of ₹91,700 crore.

In its early years, the company targeted affordable housing for the middle-class but eventually expanded its portfolio into luxury. The shift was a consequence of the two brothers' return from the West with world experiences. Abhishek had worked with McKinsey & Co in Atlanta, USA, after acquiring a Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Abhinandan had pursued MBA from University of Cardiff, UK.

In 2003, Mangal Prabhat Lodha eased his sons in the family business -- Abhishek was positioned as the managing director of the Group, while Abhinandan took charge of finance. The brothers would make formal appearances together till 2015 to promote their brand, business and projects.