Vijay Mallya, his parties and rich and famous lifestyle

Each year, Vijay Mallya selects exotic destinations all over the world to shoot the eagerly awaited Kingfisher calendar that splashes pictures of hot models; he does not think twice before throwing a high-profile party for his celebrity friends and VIPs at his $60 million villa on the island of Sainte Marguerite off the coast of Cannes!

That Mallya is drenched in opulence and is admired by his friends for his unique themed parties is part of Bangalore's lore.

No more the King of Good Times

"Mallya has set the benchmark for parties that are unparalleled. It is difficult to emulate him in terms of hospitality. People in Bangalore are always on their toes for a rare entry into his parties," Manoj Kumar, who manages high-profile parties in the city, said.

Mallya's flagship carrier Kingfisher might be experiencing turbulence, but his admirers are not worried. For, Mallya is a man who is known not to give up throwing parties or surprises even when in a financial mess.

The liquor baron owns 26 property all over the world, including in Scotland, Monaco, New York, Napa Valley, South Africa, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi.

Two of these stand out - his ancestral home in Bangalore and the luxurious Kingfisher Villa in Goa - as every article, including napkins, are personalised for the business tycoon.

SPECIAL: Mallya, Tipu & Mahatma

He plans to raze his ancestral mansion and develop a luxury apartment block, tentatively named Kingfisher Towers, in which he hopes to occupy the penthouse.

The 36-floor Kingfisher Towers, if it materialises, will be the highest and costliest property in Bangalore.

Mallya has also converted his UB Group property off Cubbon Park into a dazzling luxury mall for the rich and famous.

The UB City, modelled on the lines of the Manhattan skyscrapers, also has office and residential blocks. The UB Group operates from this imposing structure.

Will Mallya's move to shut down Kingfisher Red pay off?

An avid horse breeder and racer, the tycoon takes great interest in the annual Bangalore Derby.

He is covered by a ring of security guards, mostly retired personnel from the armed forces. He prefers using the latest Mercedes cars when in Bangalore.

Mallya's foray into electoral politics was a disaster when he tried to revive the Janata Party in Karnataka. Though he toured Karnataka extensively, he failed to make a mark. Eventually, he was ejected from the post of the party's working president in 2010.

However, last year he won the election to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka as an Independent.

Courtesy: Mail Today