Darshan Mehta, founding CEO and former managing director of Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) — the company that serves as the Indian partner for more than 90 brands including Armani, Versace, Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Zegna — passed away on Wednesday morning in Hyperabad following a sudden cardiac arrest.
While Mehta stepped down from his executive position in November last year, he retained his role as a non-executive director on the RBL board and had also taken on a mentoring position within the group. His sudden passing has left the Indian retail industry shocked. He was last seen by many in the industry at Lakmé Fashion Week, in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), which concluded at the end of March. The FDCI Instagram reads: “The legend is no more.” Speaking to Vogue Business, FDCI designation president Sunil Sethi says, “I do not think anyone understands how many people from the industry he was mentoring at any given time. He was magnanimous with time and effort.” He notes that luxury retail in India would not be where it is today without Mehta.
“He shaped the industry. There were only a few luxury brands in India before RBL — today, India is in every international brand’s eye, and that really is because of Mehta,” says Sethi. “He had great taste, and also knew the money game. It was a rare combination. He was the most respected and known name from India when it comes to luxury retail. It is a loss for both global luxury and the Indian design community.”
Before joining Ambani-owned Reliance in 2007, Mehta was president of Arvind Brands Limited, a company known for its homegrown premium labels and as the retail partner for Tommy Hilfiger India. A chartered accountant by training, he believed that it was time for Indian fashion designers to make their mark. During his tenure at RBL, and under the umbrella of RBL’s parent company Reliance Industries, the group began investing in or partnering with a number of Indian designer brands in recent years, including Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Manish Malhotra, Ritu Kumar and Rahul Mishra.
Mishra says: “Mr Mehta was not only a mentor to me, but also a guiding force for our entire team. He played a pivotal role in the launch of our ready-to-wear label AFEW, and his unwavering vision and insight guided us every step of the way. His understanding of global luxury and his drive to bring the same level of excellence to India has always been deeply inspiring. He was, without a doubt, one of the few people with such passion for India’s potential and his legacy lives on through his life’s work and the thriving ecosystem he built from the ground up.”
Correction: This article was updated to correct Darshan Mehta’s age to 63. A previous version of this article incorrectly listed him as 64. (9/4/25)
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@voguebusiness.com.
