'It Does Get a Little Lonely': When Ratan Tata Spoke About Not Having a Family

New Delhi: Ratan Tata, one of the world's most renowned industrialists and philanthropists, passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. Despite his significant contributions to the business world and the deep admiration he garnered from many, Tata remained unmarried, with no kids, which often left him feeling lonely in his personal life.

In a conversation with Simi Garewal on the TV show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, he spoke candidly about his feelings of loneliness and having no family. "There are many times I feel lonely about not having a wife or a family, and sometimes I long for it," he shared.

He acknowledged that while he appreciated the freedom that came with not having to consider someone else's feelings, there were times when the solitude became overwhelming. "Sometimes I enjoy the freedom of not having to worry about the feelings of someone else. Other times, it does get a little lonely," he admitted.

When asked about what stopped him from getting married, Tata listed out various reasons such as dedication to his work and timing. He said, "A whole series of things (stopped me from marrying) – timing, and my absorption in work at the time. I came close to getting married sometimes, but it didn’t work out."

After his demise, Simi in a post on X said, "They say you have gone ...It's too hard to bear your loss..too hard.. Farewell my friend..#RatanTata"

Interestingly, Simi once dated Ratan Tata and fondly remembered their bond. She further shared that Ratan Tata was his very first friend when she came to Mumbai.

"We had both just returned from abroad into terra incognita; both at the threshold of an uncharted world. Despite his decades of success, Ratan’s humility and integrity never wavered," said Garewal.

She continued, "For a man who stays clear from the flashbulb glare of fame, it was generous of Ratan to be my first guest on Rendezvous. My crew was floored by his lack of pretence. I remember he shook hands with each of them before leaving – in his Maruti!"