Jay Mehta
Business magnate and co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Jay Mahendra Mehta is a prominent Indian businessman born on January 18, 1961. He leads the multinational Mehta Group, which traces its roots to his grandfather Nanji Kalidas Mehta and spans operations across Africa, India, Canada, and the United States. Beyond his corporate leadership, Mehta shares a unique bond with Bollywood through his marriage to actress Juhi Chawla. Notably, he stands as a co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League alongside actor Shahrukh Khan. His lineage includes the late Kenyan race car driver Shekhar Mehta, adding a layer of motorsport history to his family's legacy.
- Birth Date
- 18 January 1961
- Education BS
- Columbia University (1983)
- Education MBA
- International Institute for Management Development, Lausanne (1991)
- Group Scope
- Africa, India, Canada, United States
- Indian Companies
- Saurashtra Cement Ltd, Gujarat Sidhee Cement Ltd
- IPL Role
- Co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders
- Spouse
- Juhi Chawla
- Children
- Jahnavi Mehta (born 2001), Arjun Mehta (born 2003)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Mehta's journey began with rigorous academic preparation, earning a BS in engineering from Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science in New York City in 1983. He later expanded his expertise globally, securing an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1991. These educational milestones laid the groundwork for his stewardship of the Mehta Group. In India, he directly owns Saurashtra Cement Ltd located in Ranavav near Porbandar, Gujarat, and Gujarat Sidhee Cement Ltd in Veraval, Gujarat. His business acumen extended into sports when he joined forces with Shahrukh Khan to co-own the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise.
In Their Own Story
Personal life for Mehta has been marked by both triumph and tragedy within a close-knit family circle. He was previously married to Sujata Birla, sister of Yash Birla; tragically, she died in the Flight 605 plane crash in 1990. Following this loss, he found love again with Juhi Chawla, a former Miss India and celebrated Bollywood actress. Together, they built a family, welcoming daughter Jahnavi Mehta in 2001 and son Arjun Mehta in 2003. His connection to high-speed motorsport remains a point of pride through his cousin, the late Shekhar Mehta, who was a renowned race car driver from Kenya.
Reader's Guide
For those tracking Jay Mehta's professional footprint, focus on two primary pillars: industrial leadership and sports ownership. In the cement sector, he maintains direct ownership stakes in Saurashtra Cement Ltd (Ranavav) and Gujarat Sidhee Cement Ltd (Veraval). In the realm of cricket, his partnership with Shahrukh Khan defines his role as a co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders. Family history is equally specific, noting the 1961 birth date, the 1990 loss of his first wife, and the births of his two children in 2001 and 2003. These facts form the complete verified profile available.
Did You Know?
- Jay Mehta is the grandson of Nanji Kalidas Mehta, who originally owned the Mehta Group.
- He co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders with actor Shahrukh Khan.
- His first wife, Sujata Birla, died in the Flight 605 plane crash in 1990.
- Mehta earned his engineering degree from Columbia University in New York City in 1983.
- He is the cousin of Shekhar Mehta, a late Kenyan race car driver.