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Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth22 September 1937

Age85 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceKarachi, Punjab Province, British India

ProfessionIndustrialist, Philanthropist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried (at time of death)

SpousePersis Khambatta

FamilyChildren: Piruz Khambatta, Delna Boyce, Ruzan Khambatta; grandchildren: Arzad, Areez, Arnavaz, Arzeen, Avan, Firoza

Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta Biography

Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta (22 September 1937 – 19 November 2022) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist best known for building the home-grown soft

Early life and background

Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta was born on 22 September 1937 in Karachi, then part of Punjab Province in British India. His family later settled in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where he made his home and built his business and civic life. Raised in a Parsi household, Khambatta grew up with ties to both Karachi and Ahmedabad and remained active in the Parsi community throughout his life.

Career

Khambatta is remembered as the driving force behind Rasna, the Indian soft-drink concentrate brand that began as a family enterprise. After an early stint with a company called Jaffe in the mid-1970s, he joined the Rasna Group, which his father had set up in 1976 as a lower-cost alternative to bottled soft drinks. Under his leadership the brand scaled rapidly: production expanded from hand-packing operations into multiple shifts as demand grew, and the company recorded notable turnover in its early years.

Khambatta prioritized wide distribution and affordable pricing, positioning Rasna to reach consumers across India. He launched the long-running 'I love you Rasna' advertising campaign in the 1980s, which became a familiar presence on national television during that decade and the next. During his tenure the Rasna Group grew into a manufacturer with multiple plants, an extensive depot and stockist network, and a presence in many countries.

Beyond the family business, Khambatta held leadership roles in community and civic organisations. He served as chairman of the Rasna Foundation and of the Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust, through which he directed philanthropic efforts in health care, education and scholarships. He also served as chair of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthostis (WAPIZ), president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat and vice president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. For roughly two decades he acted as Commandant of the Ahmedabad Home Guards and Civil Defence, and his public service earned him several medals and honours.

Public profile

Khambatta was widely recognized within business and community circles. He received national honours including the National Citizen’s Award for contributions to commerce. Local and community groups referred to him with respectful sobriquets that reflected his standing in Ahmedabad and in the Parsi community. His family continued to play an active role in the business: chairmanship of the Rasna Foundation passed to his son Piruz Khambatta in 1997, and members of his family occupy leadership roles in the group and related ventures.

Personal life

Areez Khambatta married Persis Khambatta in an arranged marriage. The couple had children, including a son, Piruz Khambatta, who became chairman of the Rasna Group, and daughters Delna Boyce and Ruzan Khambatta. The family includes grandchildren who are part of the next generation associated with the Rasna business and the family’s philanthropic interests.

Philanthropy and honours

Khambatta maintained an active philanthropic profile through the Rasna Foundation and the Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust, supporting initiatives in education, health and scholarship programmes. His civic and charitable work was recognized with awards and medals, and he was chosen as an outstanding member of the Parsi community in Ahmedabad.

Later years and death

Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta remained associated with the Rasna Group and his philanthropic trusts into his later years. He died in Ahmedabad on 19 November 2022 at the age of 85 from cardiac arrest. Rasna Group issued an official statement mourning his passing and highlighting his contributions to industry and social service. His funeral rites included a public Uthamna held at a Parsi agiary in Ahmedabad.

Legacy

Khambatta’s legacy is tied to the Rasna brand’s wide reach and enduring place in the Indian beverage market, as well as to his leadership in Parsi community organisations and charitable work. The business and philanthropic institutions he helped build continue under family stewardship.
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Recent Work

Rasna Group leadership and philanthropic work

Founder chairman of Rasna Group; chairman of Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust and Rasna Foundation; promoted Rasna's national advertising campaign and expanded distribution.

1976-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded and led Rasna Group, a major soft-drink concentrate manufacturer
  2. Launched the 'I love you Rasna' national advertising campaign
  3. Chairman of Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust and Rasna Foundation
  4. Served as Commandant of Ahmedabad Home Guards & Civil Defence for around 20 years
  5. Held leadership roles in Parsi community organisations including WAPIZ and Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat
  6. Recipient of the National Citizen’s Award
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta born?

22 September 1937

What is Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta known for?

Industrialist, Philanthropist

What is Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta’s marital status?

Married (at time of death)

Who is Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta married to?

Persis Khambatta