Godrej was 70.
Parmeshwar Godrej, renowned philanthropist, socialite and the wife of leading industrialist and Godrej Group chairman Adi Godrej, passed away in Mumbai, on Monday. She was 70. She was undergoing treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital following a degenerative lung disease
A well-known figure among the business fraternity and the society, Parmeshwar used her networking with businessmen and celebrities across the world to support her philanthropic initiatives, reported India Today.
One of the important initiatives launched by Parmeshwar was the Heroes Project that aimed at combating AIDS in India by creating awareness about the disease. She joined hands with Hollywood actor Richard Gere for the project.
Launched in 2004, Heroes Project later received support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative.
Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake had selected her through President Clinton’s Global initiative to work with several philanthropic projects. Along with director Shekhar Kapur, Parmeshwar launched a production house called Starlight in 2000 which was preceded by co-producing the Merchant-Ivory production ‘The Perfect Murder’ in 1988.
Parmeshwar designed costumes for actor Hema Malini in her film Dharmatma (1975) at the request of her good friend Feroz Khan who was the actor, director, and producer of the same film.
India Today called her an intrepid collector of the world’s prettiest powerful people and the social arbiter in chief in one of its lists of powerful people.
Actor Shabana Azmi once praised her saying, “She was warm, generous and almost childlike under that starry sharp businesswoman exterior.”
She married Adi Godrej when she was working as an air hostess with Air India. She was one of the first air hostesses of the national air carrier of India.
She is survived by her husband Adi and three children, daughters Nisa and Tanya Dubash, and son Pirojsha.
“Devastated by death of close friend Parmeshwar Godrej, last night. She was always there for me in my most difficult times,” tweeted Pakistani politician and former cricketer Imran Khan.
“Deepest condolences to Adi Uncle, Tanya, Pirojsha & family. Will miss Parmeshwar Godrej, one of the warmest/ toughest people I knew,” said former union minister Milind Deora.