At work, do not disturb

They are also inheritors being groomed to take over the baton—but away from the media glare. Take Aalok D. Shanghvi, 21, heir-apparent at Sun Pharmaceutical. He has been in the family business since 2007— but is nowhere near the boardroom. Sun's Founder Dilip Shanghvi has made him start as a product executive.

Anirudh Dhoot, heir-apparent to the $2.5-billion Videocon Group, has worked his way up to the post of CEO, Electrolux India, having been in the family business since 2002 and seen his first business plan fall apart.

"Whatever questions you have for him, I will answer them. Anirudh is still learning on the job," says his father Venugopal.

Tariq Premji is with IT billionaire Azim Premji's eponymous Foundation, but well hidden away, with few clues on what he does.

And don't forget the daughters armed with MBAs. Take Savitri Devi Singh, one of the daughters of Rajiv Singh, DLF Vice Chairman. Savitri, a Wharton graduate, has been with DLF Commercial Developers Ltd for a year as a Vice President.

Pia, Tara and Veer, the two daughters and son, respectively, of Analjit Singh, founder of the $1-billion Max Group, have entered the family business over the past few years. Arathi Krishna, daughter of Sundram Fasteners Ltd Chairman Suresh Krishna, is aboard as Executive Director.