Meet Rishi Sethia, who is friends with world’s richest people, his work is…, ex-husband of Bollywood star…
In one of the episode of Netflix’s popular show Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Lives, actor Neelam Kothari opened up for the first time about her previous marriage to Rishi Sethia. Though now happily married to actor Sameer Soni, Neelam revealed the emotional toll her first marriage’s failure had on her and how it recently resurfaced in her life. Talking about her first marriage, Neelam said that she walked out of it after her individuality was being taken away from her. “I was told to wear Indian clothes, give up non-veg, and alcohol. I was fine with everything. I was also asked to change my name, and I did that, too. A lot of people do that. But, changing my identity? That is something I was not okay with. I reached a point where I questioned myself, ‘How am I allowing this?’ There were several times when I used to be in a supermarket or out on lunch, and someone would come up to me and ask, ‘Are you Neelam the actress?’ And I had to say, ‘No, I am not Neelam.’”
This disclosure has left the internet sleuthing the identity of her first husband, Rishi Sethia, a UK-based businessman, who hails from a family with a net worth of Rs 65000 Crores.
Who is Rishi Sethia?
Rishi Sethia, the son of industrialist Nirmal Kumar Sethia and the late Chitra Devi Sethia, hails from a prominent family that relocated to London in 1969, where he was born. His family owns the luxury tea brand Newby, renowned for its custom blends served at high-end hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants globally.
According to The Statesman, Rishi Sethia is an international entrepreneur, and his family is widely recognized for their charitable efforts through the N Sethia Foundation. The foundation supports causes such as medical research, education for underprivileged children, cultural preservation, youth programs, and disaster relief. In 2022, the UK’s Asian Rich List featured the Sethia family with an estimated net worth of £6.5 billion (Rs 68,449 crores approx.), according to publicly available data.
In 2016, Nirmal Sethia and the N Sethia Foundation commissioned a unique diamond and ruby-encrusted teapot to highlight the cultural importance of tea. According to Guinness World Records, this teapot, valued at USD 3,000,000 (approximately Rs 25 crore), was designed by Nirmal Sethia himself.
Rishi Sethia and his multi-billion dollar connections
Rishi Sethia has mastered the art of building influence and strategic connections, making him a prominent power broker within global elite circles. At 47, Sethia has established an impressive network between London and Dubai, positioning him as a key figure among influential leaders worldwide. According to a report by Beverly Weekly, his network extends across private equity funds, philanthropic boards, and ultra-premium social clubs that serve some of the world’s most powerful individuals.
Sethia’s skill in creating influential relationships has made him a recognized figure not only in social circles but also in financial institutions, private equity, hedge funds, mining, and other industries. Many high-net-worth individuals seek his advice and benefit from his connections. Sethia played a significant role in establishing London’s super-exclusive social club, “Annabel’s,” where membership is limited to just 2% of billionaires.
Rishi Sethia’s married life
Rishi married to actress Neelam Kothari in October 2000 in Bangkok, but the marriage was short-lived, and the couple filed for divorce soon after, according to India Today.
After their divorce, Neelam married actor Samir Soni in 2011. On the other hand, Rishi married former Miss India and renowned jewelry designer Queenie Singh in 2015. However, Rishi’s second marriage reportedly created tension within his family. According to reports, his father, Nirmal Sethia, was unhappy with this marriage and subsequently disinherited Rishi from his fortune.