Just days after Ratan Tata’s will grabbed headlines, his iconic sea-facing bungalow, Halekai, in Colaba has once again come into the spotlight. After stepping down from Tata Sons in 2012, the late Ratan Tata made Halekai his residence, sharing the home with his German shepherds and loyal staff while continuing his philanthropic work through Tata Trusts.
Now, reports suggest that Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother and current chairman of Tata Trusts, may move into the bungalow—though some sources firmly deny the possibility.
Noel Tata presently resides in Windmere, a six-storey building in Cuffe Parade, but speculation hints at a potential relocation. Halekai, a four-storey bungalow built on a 13,350 sq ft plot, is owned by Ewart Investments, a fully-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons.
Since Ratan Tata’s passing in October 2024, the bungalow has remained vacant. Shortly after his brother’s death, Noel Tata was appointed chairman of Tata Trusts, which holds a 66% stake in Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group. In addition, he holds leadership roles as chairman of Trent and Tata Investment Corporation, managing director of Tata International, and vice chairman of both Titan Company and Tata Steel.
Meanwhile, two other Tata family residences also remain unoccupied: The Cairn, a two-storey Scottish-style bungalow on Altamount Road once home to JRD Tata and purchased by Tata Sons for Rs 50 crore, and a beach-facing bungalow in Juhu that belonged to their father, Naval Tata.