The odds are stacked against Jhunjhunwala’s airline

It’s a wonder how perfectly successful and intelligent businessmen have suicidal tendencies. We are talking of those who get the 7-year itch, and launch mid-career into Bollywood and airlines. Almost two decades ago, Kishore Biyani, who knew nothing of Bollywood, invested quite a few crores in making flops and launching an actor called Diya Mirza. Fortunately, he came quickly to his senses.

Then there are those who went starry-eyed after airlines. Look at Vijay Mallya. He sacrificed a perfectly good business in liquor to burn himself setting up a disastrous airline and pretending to be Richard Branson. The glitz of posing beside cool airhostesses and celebrity actors gets the better of these otherwise sensible investors.