24. Sunil Mittal, 51
Bharti Airtel Chairman
Why
He heads Bharti Enterprises, one of India’s leading business groups with interests in telecom, agri business, insurance and retail. Bharti Airtel, under the leadership of Mittal, has been at the forefront of the telecom revolution and has transformed into the largest mobile phone operator in India with a market value of $25 billion. It has also entered into a joint venture with Wal-Mart to tap the growing retail market in India.
Power punch
He was one of the first Indians to identify the mobile telecom business as a major growth area and launched services in Delhi in 1995.
What next
With the telecom sector going in for 3G technology, Mittal will remain a major player. His insurance venture, in tie-up with Axa, is also expanding.

25. Deepak Parekh, 64
HDFC Chairman
Why
He is the most consulted person in financial matters. He heads several committees on capital markets and infrastructure and is the prime force behind the housing loan culture in India. The government recently appointed him as a director to put scam-hit Satyam Computers on track.
Power punch
Parekh was the first from the business community to raise his voice against the Gujarat riots of 2002. Others mustered the courage after Parekh’s outburst and there was a wave of protests and condemnation from India Inc.
What next
As a director on the Satyam Computers board, there are great expectations from him. The government, regulators and the corporate world will continue to look at Parekh for new ideas and, of course, fire-fighting.

... contd.