HELLO! India Exclusive: How Jahnavi Mehta is bringing a new perspective to legacy

In an era where social media is overflowing with PR-polished and cosmetic-surgeon-chiselled star kids, pre-packaged for public consumption, Jahnavi Mehta is changing the script and going old school — she is letting her work do the talking. The 25-year-old daughter of actor Juhi Chawla and industrialist Jay Mehta, — heir to the Mehta family’s stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as well as the Mehta Group — has happily traded red-carpet drama for the tournament’s high-stakes auction war-room action.

“I’ve always been very private. I don’t feel the need to be too active on social media because I’ve always been happy sharing what I’m up to with the people who need to know,” Jahnavi shrugs. “It’s just not a part of who I am — it’s a lot of work and can take over your life in a way.” But ask the soft-spoken young woman whether her vehement refusal to become paparazzi catnip is part of a strategy of selective visibility, and she laughs it off, attributing it to her never really being subjected to that world growing up.

“So, I am not very comfortable with the attention. Even at the first auction I went to, I was so uncomfortable doing interviews and things like that because I had never really been exposed to any of this before.” Although Jahnavi grew up in Mumbai, her family always maintained a measured distance from the spotlight, ensuring that she and her brother enjoyed a normal childhood away from the media glare. Then, at 16, she left home for the UK, after which she moved to New York for her undergraduate studies. It has been seven years since. “I was really able to figure myself out — who I am, what I want to do — away from any attention. There haven’t been eyes on me scrutinising my every move.”

In fact, the daughter of the ’90s Bollywood icon insists that she never truly felt like a star kid growing up. “I don’t think it ever really struck me that she was a big movie star. This is embarrassing to admit, but to this day, I haven’t watched any of her films. She’s always just been Mom!”

When prodded why, she says she found watching her mother on screen odd. “I’ve only ever really known her as my mom. And then she’s in these movies, playing romantic leads, and is just a different version of herself. I always found it a little off-putting,” she explains, adding that Bollywood has had little influence on her life, and she was never smitten with the idea of becoming an actor herself. “I definitely don’t like being in front of a camera, so it’s really not for me.”

That doesn’t mean Jahnavi is immune to the charm of cinema. “Dad is a huge movie buff. He loves Western cinema. I grew up on a robust diet of Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. Even now, I love going to the cinema and watching movies. I go alone, and it’s mostly Hollywood.”

“Dad is a huge movie buff. He loves Western cinema. I grew up on a robust diet of Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. Even now, I love going to the cinema and watching movies. I go alone, and it’s mostly Hollywood.” It is sport, though, that has always been her true calling. She grew up playing football and tennis. She skied, and dabbled in squash and golf. Yet, it was the IPL — launched in 2008, seducing cricket fans one last-over thriller and one towering six at a time, while shifting the sport’s economic centre of gravity decisively towards India — that completely captivated seven-year old Jahnavi.

“Since then, the IPL has been a huge part of my life. In the first few years, my parents were heavily involved with KKR — my dad managed the team. Because I was so young and my parents were so involved, there was a lot of emotion attached to it, and I just got swept away by it. But over the years, that emotional connection evolved nto a curiosity about how a team actually works. The one thing that never changed was my obsession with winning the IPL!” Jahnavi says with a laugh.

Recognising her passion and curiosity, Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, took her under his wing at a young age and began introducing her to the inner workings of the franchise. It was he who first got her to the IPL auction in 2018. “It was pretty intimidating. I was just 16, still learning about the game and how auctions worked. I had never been part of something that big before — and it was a televised event!” she recalls.

But not one to buckle under pressure, Jahnavi not only thrived in that atmosphere; she became a talking point instantly. The country was introduced to a 16-year-old star kid and heir to a multi-generational business empire, sitting alongside seasoned executives and owners armed with player lists and bidding paddles. And for Jahnavi, the experience proved transformative.

“I fell in love with the industry, the people, the pressure, and the stakes. I wanted to be part of that world.” She got her start with a short internship at KKR in 2021 mid-pandemic, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Columbia University. Today, five IPL auctions in, Jahnavi has learnt that running a cricket franchise requires far more than a passion for the game. From an IPL fan, she has evolved into one of its future custodians.

Her biggest lesson? Leave emotion at the door. Players may become friends, but successful franchises are built on contingency plans, strategic discipline and difficult decisions. Yet, it is not just about assembling a squad. Beyond the floodlights lies an intricate ecosystem of talent management, culture-building and constant human engagement.

“Great teams aren’t merely bought at auctions; they’re built behind the scenes,” she reflects. “This is a people-oriented venture. You have to make sure that every single person feels cared for because that’s what makes a great team.” The blueprint, however, comes from her father, who taught her that relationships are as valuable as revenue. “He’s always stressed the importance of people in business — you need to have friends not only in your industry but in other industries, as well. They can become crucial sounding boards.”

In an age obsessed with metrics and performance, it is a lesson that may prove to be one of her greatest advantages. Jahnavi also hopes to imbibe his sense of integrity into her own business DNA. “I think it’s important to be honest with anyone you’re dealing with, whether in a transaction or a relationship.” But rather than merely inheriting a legacy, she wants to build one of her own.

“I have the utmost respect for what both my parents have done, and for what my grandfather [Mahendra Mehta] and great-grandfather [Nanji Kalidas Mehta], who started the family legacy, created. But I want to carve out my own path,” says the fourth-generation businesswoman navigating the intersection of legacy and modern leadership.

And Jahnavi wants her legacy in sport to be measured not by titles won but by the opportunities she creates. “I’d love for my legacy in sport to be one not just of commercial excellence or winning championships, but also one where I’ve helped sports — not just cricket — grow in India in terms of access.

“I want India to develop into a sporting powerhouse. I’d love to be part of that story and leave my mark that way. It is definitely a big dream, and I want my legacy to be defined, at least in part, by that,” Jahnavi asserts.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER HURLEY
MAKEUP: LUIS GUILLERMO DUQUE