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PUNE • WEDNESDAY January �, ����
GOKHALE CONSTRUCTIONS � PROPERTIES PVT. LTD At the helm
VISHAL GOKHALE n 30 years n Entry Point: 2004
TAKE
5
Success is... Finding Peace
I am Puneri because... I dig Bedekar’s Misal
What drives me Commitment
Charity is...
an intrinsic character trait
Sakal to Pune is.... Everything
GOKHALE CONSTRUCTIONS Gokhale Constructions & Properties Pvt. Ltd. Is a brand new entrant in Pune’s real estate scenario, but is already a force to reckon with, having established itself as a front rank company in eco-friendly housing. USbased Lead Certification has awarded ‘Gold Rating’ to one of its projects for its eco-friendly designs. Besides revolutionising the luxury segment, Gokhale constructions comes amongst the top players in redevelopment projects in the city, for its hallmark quality, commitment, ethical dealings and stateof-the-art homes. Today, this name is synonymous with high quality redevelopment projects. Of late, it has set foot in the ultra-premium section, and has to its credit noteworthy and ultra luxurious projects such as The Palladium. The company has completed more than 3 lakh square feet of construction with more than 20 redeveloped projects and about 10 and more in process. To know more about their ongoing and upcoming projects visit http://www.gokhaleconstru ctions.com.
www.punegoesyoung.com
Goes
I
t is his childlike demeanor that proved to be his cherished asset. His biggest breakthrough came in 2004 when he was entrusted the task of completing his first housing project Eshan in Aundh. At a time when he had no standing in the market, was just 21 and had no real estate breeding in his stride, it was the benevolence of an elderly lady Pramila Kulkarni, that came to his rescue. “I cannot be indebted enough to this aaji. I had no experience; almost no money and yet she reposed enough faith in me to give me the project,” says Vishal Gokhale. “Had it not been for her, I would not be here today. She was adamant that I get the project. I am so thankful, for this project was the turning point of my life.” This was in 2004. Just a mere 6 years prior, a young lad entered the portals of BMCC for his Std XI, all set to enjoy college life and was eager to return home each day to play galli cricket with his mohalla buddies. Staying in the Puneri ghetto at Laxmi Road, his world revolved around swimming, cricket, school and pottering around in his father’s modest grocery store. There was no kite enthusiast as zealous as him. “I was absolutely crazy for kites. I still am. It was a great adrenaline rush to make your own manjaa and then hunting down the others’ kites. I truly ruled as a kite flier back then,” says Vishal nostalgically. A sports lover to the core, Vishal was averse to academics. “Not a day went by when I was not punished in school. In fact, I dreaded studies and waited for a chance to hit the playground.” Needless to say, Vishal was quite an angry young man with a lot of angst in him that saw him get into regular scuffles. “To tame me, my father sent me away to a taalim in Kolhapur for six months after my boards. But I made some great friendships while there which I nurture to this day,” he recalls. While in college, the young entrepreur in him made him restless. He realised that the income from the grocery store was meagre and the urge to do something else for extra income gnawed him. So when the opportunity arose to make a Rs 600 profit on every brick truck sold, this boy jumped at it without any knowhow of the contracting industry. But then gradually he began getting a hang of the dealings in the market. Soon he was balancing college and business at the tender age of 17. If sweet success comes to you, adversary is not far behind. Hard times struck the Gokhale family. “My bricks business helped us stay afloat. But those were difficult times. I was refused financial help from all quarters. I also was married by that time to Poonam Divekar. It was in these trying moments that the project Eshan came to me as a godsend,” says Vishal. The next breakthrough was the scheme Manas in Kothrud in 2007 which once again he got thanks to another grandmother, Shubhada Karnik, believing in his capabilities. “After Manas, there’s been no looking back. We have grown from strength to strength and today we have wrapped up 30 schemes and have 20 more
Flying High
His boyish smile exudes self belief and genuine warmth, exactly the same way as his working style exhibits transparency and calculated risks. From the carefree, young, kite runner to a strapping professional, Vishal Gokhale has traversed quite a path. Yet, what makes him formidable is his keen sense of ‘a good deal’ and above all, his disarming honesty, says Shumita Mahajan
ongoing projects happening. We have the premium segment Palladium which we are doing as a joint venture with Guardian Developers.” In a very short span of time Vishal learnt many important life lessons. “In my lean patch, I have seen the true colours of people. Most people do not want to associate with you when you are down and out. But I have learnt my lesson. My wife Poonam has been my rock solid support through those difficult times and the friends who have weathered the storm by my side are very important to me to this day. For the world, money is the most important relation, yet for me, money is a medium but no replacement to relationships.” The latest feather in his cap was the ‘Young Entrepreneurship’ Award bestowed on him by Builders Association of India-Pune Chapter for the current year.