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Ashwin Dani Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth26 September 1944

Age79 Years

BirthplaceMumbai

ProfessionBusinessman

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseIna Dani

FamilySons - Jalaj Dani, Malav Dani, Hasit Dani

Net worth$7.8 billion

Ashwin Dani Biography

Ashwin Suryakant Dani was an Indian businessman and long-time leader at Asian Paints. A trained chemist, Dani helped modernize India’s paint industry, led,

Early life and background

Ashwin Suryakant Dani was born on 26 September 1944 in Mumbai. He grew up in a family connected to the founding of Asian Paints—his father, Suryakant Dani, was one of the company’s co-founders. Dani completed strong technical and scientific training: a B.Sc. (Hons) from The Institute of Science, Mumbai, a B.Sc. (Tech) in Pigments, Paints & Varnishes from the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) in Mumbai, an M.S. in Polymer Science from the University of Akron, Ohio, and a diploma in Colour Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Career

Dani began his professional life in 1967 as a development chemist with Inmont Corp in Detroit. A year later he joined Asian Paints and rose through roles that included director of research and development, works director, whole-time director and member of the board (from 1970). He served as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Asian Paints from 1998 until 2009 and later returned to senior board roles, including periods as Non-Executive Director, Vice Chairman, and Chairman.

Across decades with the company, Dani championed technological and product innovations that influenced the wider Indian coatings industry. Under his leadership Asian Paints introduced computerized colour matching to India and Asia in 1975, a move that found use across paints, plastics, printing inks and textiles. He was an early adopter of plastic packaging and printed plastic for paint products and led the development of melamine-based transparent wood coating sold as Apcolite—a fast-drying, water-resistant finish that dominated its market segment for years.

Dani navigated significant organisational and personal challenges in the mid-1990s, including a health crisis, the departure of a long-serving business partner and a destructive fire at a manufacturing unit. In that period he also helped forge a 50:50 joint venture between Asian Paints and global automotive coatings leader PPG Industries, serving as a founding director of PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd.

Beyond Asian Paints, Dani held leadership and board positions across industry. He served on the boards of companies such as Sun Pharmaceuticals and chaired Resins and Plastics Ltd, Gujarat Organics Ltd, and Hi-Tech Plast Ltd. He was founder-promoter of Loctite India (later Henkel Adhesive Technologies India Pvt Ltd) and guided growth through technological innovation, rural marketing efforts and international acquisitions.

Public profile

Dani received multiple industry honours over his career, including awards such as Businessman of the Year from Business India (2015), a Colour Society Lifetime Achievement Award (2012), the Indian Paint Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Manufacturing (2003) and other recognitions from industry bodies dating back to the early 2000s.

He was active in trade and academic circles: participating in the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as a vice president, serving on the Board of Management and Board of Governors of his alma mater’s institutions, and advising on the Central Board of Trustees for the Employees Provident Fund of India. He also sat on the President’s Advisory Council at the University of Akron.

Personal life

Dani was married to Ina Dani, who worked as a businesswoman and yoga teacher. The couple had three sons—Jalaj, Malav and Hasit—each identified with business roles. The family maintained a strong interest in yoga; both Ashwin and Ina practised Iyengar yoga and supported related institutions and teaching initiatives.

Dani was also known as an art connoisseur. His personal story included a long commitment to integrating scientific expertise with consumer-facing product design and packaging in the coatings sector.

Latest updates

Ashwin Dani passed away on 28 September 2023 in Mumbai after a brief illness. He was 79 years old at the time of his death. In the financial year 2023, Asian Paints reported consolidated revenue and profit figures that reinforced its position as India’s largest paint company; the company’s FY23 results included total revenue and net profit that reflected continued business scale.

Under Dani’s influence the company had been recognised among Forbes Asia’s Fab 50 companies in earlier years and maintained a prominent place in India’s manufacturing and consumer goods landscape.
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Recent Work

Non-Executive Chairman / Vice Chairman roles at Asian Paints

Served in senior board positions including Vice Chairman, Managing Director (1998–2009), and later Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Board during different periods through 2021.

1998–2021
PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd

Founding director of the 50:50 joint venture between Asian Paints and PPG Industries.

1990s–2000s
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined Asian Paints in 1968 and joined the board in 1970
  2. Introduced computerized colour matching to India and Asia (1975)
  3. Developed Apcolite melamine wood coating, a market-leading product for many years
  4. Led Asian Paints as Vice Chairman and Managing Director (1998–2009) and later served as Chairman and Non-Executive Director
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Net Worth

$7.8 billion

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ashwin Dani born?

26 September 1944

What is Ashwin Dani known for?

Businessman

What is Ashwin Dani’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ashwin Dani married to?

Ina Dani

What is Ashwin Dani’s net worth?

$7.8 billion