Avni Badar: The man who bought Amitabh Bachchan's house

Avani Badar started Nezone Biscuits in 1996 and quickly managed to establish Nezone as a quality manufacturer of Biscuits in the North east region. After continuous expansion and modernisation he went on to diversify into Rusk and snack food manufacturing and co-founded Nezone Bakers, Nezone Snacks, Nebisco Industries and Nezone Foods with interests on flour milling, snack food, biscuits and Rusk

Avani Badar was a media shy and reclusive gentleman as recently as couple of days ago. He doesn't belong to the tribe of those who love to remain in news all the time. But, he is no longer an unknown businessman. And rightly so, after all, he has purchased 'Sopaan', the family house of Bollywood's undisputed monarch Amitabh Bachchan for Rs 23 crore. Sopaan was built by Amitabh Bachchan's parents i.e. Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan almost 50 years ago in Gulmohar Park, the tony South Delhi colony.

It is said that biscuit baron from Assam was keen to buy Sopaan once he shifted to Galmohar Park on rent and learnt that Bachchans rarely stay here. So, Sopaan remains empty most of the times. And as they say when there is a will, there is a way. Avani Badar, a third generation entrepreneur in a family business, managed to meet Amitabh Bachchan and clinched the deal. Now, he is the brand new owner of a landmark home.

Avani Badar started Nezone Biscuits in 1996 and quickly managed to establish Nezone as a quality manufacturer of Biscuits in the North east region. After continuous expansion and modernisation he went on to diversify into Rusk and Snack food manufacturing and co-founded Nezone Bakers, Nezone Snacks, Nebisco Industries and Nezone Foods with interests on flour milling, snack food, biscuits and Rusk.

Those who are close to very affable Avani Badar says that he is a stickler for perfection and likes to automate the manufacturing process to whatever extent possible. He has over 30 years of experience in the FMCG sector and his role on building the organisation has been recognised by both business competitors and the government.

After completing his schooling at Mayo College on 1985 and college at Darrang College, Tezpur, he went to Switzerland on 1989 where he got a post graduate degree from the Swiss School of Milling Technology in St. Gallen. In 2004 he successfully completed a part time 3 year OPM (Owners President Management) programme at Harvard Business School. In 2004 he was recognised as the most promising and upcoming entrepreneur of the North East region by NE TV. And business apart, Avani Badar has been very active in sports and love tennis and basketball. He is an avid golfer and loves the sport.

Well, the genesis of Badar's Nezone lies in 1955, barely eight years after the Independence of India. The first rice mill was set up in Assam by the Bader family. Since then the family have focused their capital and effort in the north-east zone and done their best in bringing capital into the underdeveloped area that in the region. Nezone has become one of the leading players in the FMCG industry in the north-east region of India, covering Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, West Bengal and Bihar. The group also has a presence overseas in Bhutan. Having consolidated our presence in the north-east, the Nezone group is scouting for further geographies of growth.

Nezone Foods, a flour mill was set up in Tezpur and started production of Atta, Flour, and Suji with a capacity of 70 tonnes per day. An offshoot of that, Nezone Biscuits was started in 1996 and they manufacture and distribute food products like Wheat Flour, Atta, Suji, and 51 varieties of biscuits like Sweet Biscuits, Crackers, Marie, Cream, Digestives and Health Biscuits along with Rusk etc. This is all looked after by Avni Badar. And under the watchful eyes of Avni Badar, Nezon Biscuits are making rapid strides over the years.

And once again talking about Sopaan, contrary to 'Prateeksha' and 'Jalsa', the known Mumbai abodes of Bachchan family, 'Sopaan' was an almost unknown house to people outside Delhi though it was truly special for Bachchan clan as it is their first abode. Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji left 'Sopaan' for Mumbai after the stunning success of 'Don' in 1979 as Amitabh Bachchan wanted to look after them in his house as they were ageing while, both wanted to stay back in Delhi, but it was Amitabh Bachchan who forced his parents to shift their base.

'Sopaan' had witnessed many lively poetry sessions under the guidance of Harivansh Rai Bachchan till they left for Mumbai. He too used to recite his famous poems during those vibrant sessions there. Apart from poetry sessions, debates were also held on contemporary subjects. Poets, writers, intellectuals and teachers used to attend those debates in large numbers. Teji Bachchan was a great host. She always ensured that guests enjoy good snacks and food too after hot debates. Old residents of Gulmohar Park recall that a burly security man used to follow the Bachchan duo during their morning walks. Once somebody asked about the reason, Teji ji said: "Munna [Amitabh] fears that his parents may be kidnapped."

Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan used to stay here like any other resident. Even though Gulmohar Park was meant for journalists, Teji ji got the membership of the Gulmohar Park Society because during those days there were not many takers. She was working for All India Radio (AIR). The couple used to spend lot of time looking after the construction of their dream house. Those were the days when Amitabh Bachchan was still struggling in Bollywood.

Once in an interview, Amitabh Bachchan recalled study-room full of books in his Delhi-house 'Sopaan'. "I used to sit on my father's desk in Delhi, surrounded by his books, but more his inspiration by being on his chair," adding "from this chair and desk he wrote the last chapter of his biography and many of his last poems." Now Sopaan is a history and it has a new owner, Avani Badar. He will likely redevelop the property tastefully sooner rather than later.

(The author is a Delhi-based journalist who closely follows South Asia, business, Delhi and Indian Diaspora)