Adgully Exclusive | I always feel that you should a have difficult start: Dharmesh Jain, MD, Nirmal Lifestyle

Mulund wasn't really on the radar of anyone looking for a good office or residential space till a few years ago but now, things have changed. And how! Mulund has gone from a neglected small establishment to a spanking suburb ' and all this is primarily because of one person, Dharmesh Jain. At a very young age he took over as MD of the business empire his father, Late Mr S P Jain established, and aggressively pronounced his achievements in the industry through his dedicated approach to make construction business a professionally managed company.

Nirmal Lifestyle, a leading property developer is identified as the front ranking property development companies in Mumbai. Having built more than 50 lac sq. ft. residential and commercial complexes, the group is a name to reckon with the real estate markets in Mumbai. While building and construction has been the core activity for the company, quality and innovation has by far been the soul for all its projects.

The company recently inked a deal with Discovery Enterprises International (DEI) to develop "Green' offices, residential spaces and clubs which will provide Lifestyle, Entertainment & Education inspired from the tenets of the Discovery Channel.

Adgully spoke with Dharmesh Jain and we were left speechless at the calm and humble nature of this powerhouse of a man. He always had a passion in real estate and it was his true calling but the start wasn't a cakewalk for even a person of his stature.

"I always feel that you should have difficult start. Initially everybody goes through a struggle but life should be tough as I have always felt. If you enjoy what you are doing then you don't feel it is tough, and then you feel it is a part of a necessary process that one is going through, so I have thoroughly enjoyed my time," Dharmesh says.

He goes nostalgic talking about Mumbai, and Mulund in particular. "I have been born and brought up there so I have a dream to make it special. Today from being one old sleepy suburb it is considered as one of the most happening city. By 2013 I want to make it one of the best suburbs in the country, I am on my way to achieving that dream and it is progressing very well, so that is one thing that makes me happy," he says with emotion rich eyes.

His company has grown from strength to strength over the past few years. "we used to talk of low volumes and single buildings and stuff like that. Today everybody is talking about large layouts and organized living so there has been a sea change in the way real estate is being done in India right now. Going forward I only see this improving. So I think it's now running like any other industry and there has been dramatic lateral change in the real estate," he adds.

Dharmesh believes that if the project itself has qualities of a star in the making, the entire process of marketing becomes easy. But still, since marketing is essential, the company looks at 360 degree approach involving all mediums of promotion.

Upon talking about Discovery and explaining us why a strategic alliance with an international channel like DEI and not any high TRP GEC, Dharmesh said, "It is very critical to learn from the global level and experience. Indian consumers have become very demanding and he wants the best standards in the world and that's where we felt that tying up with somebody who has a global experience made a lot of sense."

While talking about the real estate business and how India is rapidly surging ahead with its real estate business, we couldn't help but bring up the case of Lehman Brothers ' a global leader that filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The purchasing capacity of people in India is on an all-time high as disposable incomes are huge and homes are being bought on credit loans. Does this spell of another Lehman Bros scenario?

Well, answering that, Dharmesh says, "We have been working very hard with the government to create a situation where we can increase volumes in Mumbai. Till we don't increase volumes prices will always be high and a pressure point because there isn't enough volume happening to push the prices down. And we are all happy doing volumes and not value, we are with you and we should all work together to bring the prices down in Mumbai."

"I feel there is nothing impossible there is every reason to believe that India is going to be the next big thing in the world. I am absolutely convinced that India is the next big thing and as a matter of fact everything is going to change." Those were the exact words of Dahrmesh when talking about a statement issued by ex-chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Dekhmukh, saying Mumbai would become the next Shanghai.

Dharmesh is confident that Mumbai will be better than that and believes that the next ten years are going to bring dramatic changes in the industry and physical condition of the state.

Dharmesh has been awarded the Jain Ratna award for his social accomplishments. "I think in life one has to keep working hard and keep innovating and success will follow," he says, as a parting message.