As Airtel founder Sunil Bharti Mittal signals a gradual transition plan for his empire over the next decade, all eyes are on the next generation of the Mittal family. The telecom billionaire has long relied on professional management to run the group’s flagship businesses, including vice chairman and managing director Gopal Vittal.
Each of his three children, Kavin Bharti Mittal, Shravin Bharti Mittal and daughter Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, has independently built careers across technology, investing and lifestyle ventures.
Also read: Sunil Bharti Mittal to hand over reins to next generation in the next 10 yrs
Here's all you need to know about Sunil Mittal's next generation:
Kavin Bharti Mittal: The tech entrepreneur
Kavin Bharti Mittal is the founder of homegrown messaging platform Hike launched in 2012. A trained engineer, Kavin has studied electronics and electrical engineering at the University of York before pursuing a master’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering and management from Imperial College London.
During his time abroad, Kavin has interned with firms including Google, Goldman Sachs and McLaren Racing.
Under his leadership, Hike emerged as one of India’s early consumer internet unicorns, backed by investors such as Tencent, SoftBank and Foxconn. Though the messaging business was later wound down amid intense competition, Kavin pivoted the company towards gaming through Rush Gaming Universe and Web3-focused ventures.
Sunil Mittal has earlier described Kavin as pursuing “his own thing,” underscoring the family’s approach of allowing the next generation to carve independent professional identities outside the traditional telecom business.
Shravin Bharti Mittal: The investor and dealmaker
Shravin Bharti Mittal has built his career around global investing, technology and telecom-focused dealmaking, emerging as a key figure in the Bharti group’s international expansion strategy. He is the founder of investment firm Unbound and currently serves as managing director of Bharti Global Limited, the overseas investment arm of the Bharti family.
Under his leadership, Unbound has focused on technology-led sectors such as healthcare, financial services, cybersecurity, enterprise software, mobility and logistics.
Shravin began his career at J.P. Morgan in investment banking, covering technology, media and telecommunications. He later joined Airtel Africa between 2010 and 2012, where he was part of the senior management team overseeing the post-acquisition integration of Zain’s African operations. Following his Africa stint, he worked with Airtel India during the rollout of 3G services.
He subsequently moved to London-based private equity firm Better Capital, where he worked on turning around distressed retail and manufacturing businesses, before joining SoftBank Vision Fund between 2016 and 2017 as an investor at the $100-billion technology-focused fund.
Shravin holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Bath, along with a master’s degree and MBA from Harvard Business School.
Eiesha Bharti Pasricha: The lifestyle investor
Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, the only daughter of Sunil Mittal, has largely stayed away from the telecom spotlight and built a profile in lifestyle, fashion and beauty investments. Based in London, she is married to hospitality entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha.
Eiesha is a lifestyle investor with interests in fashion and beauty startups, including investments in labels such as Roksanda and beauty-tech platform Beautystack. She is also associated with the philanthropic activities of the Bharti family through the Bharti Foundation.
Sunil Bharti Mittal is yet to reveal clear plans for Airtel’s succession, as the telecom businessman and billionaire is set to hand over the reins in the next decade.
