Because from being a retail giant whose 1,000 stores in 53 cities get 20 crore footfalls a year, his Future Group has expanded rapidly into a $1.5-billion (Rs 6,000 crore) empire, pushing into every possible consumer space, from insurance to credit, either alone or with partners as varied as European clothing companies to the Manipal Group. Because even in turbulent market conditions, the Future Capital public offer that raised Rs 490 crore showed investor confidence.