Adar Poonawalla is the man of the moment. The 40-year old CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), the Pune-based biotechnology and pharmaceutical giant and the world’s largest vaccine maker, is spearheading the production of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covishield vaccine.
Just a couple of days ago, Poonawalla was granted ‘Y’ category security by the Indian government, amidst increasing pressure on him by certain influential groups and stakeholders in the country, demanding a prioritized supply of Covishield.
He, along with his wife Natasha Poonawalla and two children, Cyrus and Darius, have now temporarily moved to London. This overseas shift also comes at a time when Poonawalla is planning to expand his vaccine manufacturing business beyond India and UK as a prospective hub.
Adar and Natasha Poonawalla with their kids Cyrus and Darius / Photo: Instagram
He tweeted on May 01, “Had an excellent meeting with all our partners & stakeholders in the U.K. Meanwhile, pleased to state that COVISHIELD’s production is in full swing in Pune. I look forward to reviewing operations upon my return in a few days.”
Adar Poonawalla, the only son of Indian billionaire Cyrus Poonawalla, has leased an extravagant 25,000 sq. ft. residence in Mayfair, a super-affluent neighbourhood in London. This rental sets him back by $69,000 per week, a record-breaking purchase in the area according to reports.
Photo: Instagram
Back in India, Mr and Mrs Poonawalla have not one or two, but three uber-luxurious addresses they call their sweet abode – in Pune and Mumbai. Their permanent home in Pune, where they spend most of the family time, is the grand Adar Abad Poonawalla House.
It stands tall in the plush locale of Salisbury Park in Southern Pune. Inspired largely by European architecture and the Italian Renaissance, the 22-acre residence first leads to an open-spaced lobby with orange marble flooring and an adorable stable for their Shetland pony, Lil’ Cyrus.
Adar and Natasha Poonawalla with their kids / Photo: InstagramNatasha Poonawalla / Photo: Instagram
The living room looks up to a high-domed ceiling with fresco artworks. Rare, mesmerising collection of paintings includes works of Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Renoir and AJ Munnings. Lending an otherworldly mood to the home are the twin spiral staircases that lead up to the bedrooms and kids’ rooms.
As per reports, the home also houses a private theatre and a huge garage which houses a Ferrari, Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini cars.
With Serum Institute’s Executive Director and socialite Natasha Poonawalla’s strong ties with the B-Town celebrities, their Pune home often turns into a buzzing party venue.
The power duo also owns a stud farm and a two-storeyed farmhouse in Pune, which they bought from the Mahindra family. Natasha got her close friend and interior designer Sussanne Khan onboard to revamp the look and the feel of the property. The space boasts of modern, opulent, and dominantly equestrian interiors.
Sussanne Khan with Natasha Poonawalla / Photo: Instagram
Then there is Poonawalla’s second address in South Mumbai’s Breach Candy area, which they reportedly bought for a jaw-dropping Rs750 crore back in 2015. What makes this an iconic acquisition is that this mansion holds a significant historic value. This heritage property was owned by Maharaja Wankaner and was later leased to the US Consulate in 1957.
