Who is Leena Tewari? Owner of India's costliest flats worth over Rs 700 crore, spanning 22,572 sq ft in Worli

Leena Tewari, the chairperson of Mumbai-based USV Pharmaceuticals, recently captured public attention for buying India’s most expensive residential property—a pair of sea-facing luxury duplex apartments in Worli, Mumbai, for a staggering Rs 639 crore. She also paid Rs 63.9 crore stamp duty and GST. That's nearly Rs 703 crore in total.

The landmark deal

This landmark deal, reported by The Economic Times on May 28, set a new record in the Indian real estate market with a price exceeding Rs 2.83 lakh per sq ft on a carpet basis, covering 22,572 sq ft across the 32nd to 35th floors of a premium 40-storey tower overlooking the Arabian Sea.

She paid over Rs 63.9 crore towards stamp duty and the Goods & Services Tax alone for the registration of the transaction. After accounting for these charges, she has paid a total of nearly Rs 703 crore for the deals.

Though widely known among patients for USV’s flagship medicines such as Glycomet (for diabetes), Ecosprin (a blood thinner), and Roseday (for cholesterol), Leena Tewari herself maintains a notably low profile.

Leena Tewari's net worth

Forbes estimates her net worth at $3.9 billion, placing her among India’s richest women. Despite her immense wealth, she has kept a discreet presence in business and social circles.

Tewari is also a close friend of Nita Ambani, a prominent figure in Indian business and philanthropy.

USV: Leena Tewari's family-run company

Under Tewari’s leadership, USV remains a family-run company, steadfastly resisting pressures to sell out, bring in private equity, or go public. USV reported revenues of Rs 4,840 crore in FY24, driven by its stronghold on the Indian pharmaceutical market, especially in the diabetes segment.

Glycomet ranks as the second-leading anti-diabetes drug in India, just behind GSK’s Augmentin. The company’s other brands like Ecosprin and Roseday also command significant market shares.

Looking ahead, USV faces growing competition from new generation diabetes drugs. To maintain its edge, the company is focusing on expanding its insulin portfolio in India and developing generic versions of blockbuster weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.