Vir Kotak learned that life was unfair from an early age. He was six and living in Mumbai at that time. While cycling around his condominium estate, he witnessed a group of even older boys bully and manhandle his older brother at the playground. The size of the bullies would have intimidated most six-year-olds. Many would probably cycle home to fetch their parents. In Kotak’s mind, however, there was only one thing that mattered: helping his brother, whatever it took.
He raced towards the playground, his little legs pedalling hard. Once he reached striking distance, he leaped off his bicycle and immediately flung himself onto the back of the main bully. The older boy was shocked and swung his body back and forth in an attempt to shake him off. But Kotak held on like a veteran rodeo rider, wrapping his arms around the boy’s neck and shoulders.
Finally, his friends pried Kotak off, who collapsed on the ground. But he immediately sprung up and faced the mob of bullies. His eyes spat venom, his arms and body ready for a second round. But there was none. They retreated, leaving him and his brother alone. “They never bullied us ever again,” he tells me.
It’s a sobering reality, knowing that the downtrodden can be pushed around by those who wield strength as a weapon. “Life is unfair, and that’s fine. You just need to learn to stand up for yourself and push back when you must,” says Kotak.
He’s not advocating for violence. He’d be the first to eschew it. In the many occasions I met him for this profile over coffee, wine, and food, Kotak has been the absolute gentleman. But that fire within him is unexplainable, even to him.
He could have lived an incredibly comfortable life. His family ran large ports in several cities in India, and he had his start in the logistics industry, thanks to them. Yet, deep within the caverns of his belly, he knew he wanted more, and he wanted to do it alone.
He bought out his own business in the family enterprise, spinning it into several ventures, including Boxco World, which specialises in transport and material handling, and Propelor, a digital freight forwarding company that harnesses technology to optimise supply chains. He’s incredibly passionate about the latter because he believes in its potential to upend the slow-moving, traditional logistics industry.
For the customers, it’s simple. They power up their laptops, head to the Propelor website, and get a quote by plugging in relevant information such as shipping dates and cargo details. The magic happens at the backend. “This is where our technology shines. We’re connected with the different shipping and trucking companies, and our algorithm calculates everything for you. It’s a lot like using your Grab app. It’s incredibly seamless for you, but there’s a lot that goes on under the hood,” says Kotak, who believes he’s the only one in the region with this technological logistics solution.
Even though his business was only founded in 2022, he has bootstrapped it into a multimillion dollar business since his move to Singapore six years ago. This year, Kotak projects to make between “US$80 million (S$107.7 million) and US$100 million” in revenue. The city-state is an international logistics powerhouse, and it made sense to base himself here to be closer to the action.
You’d think that running these two businesses and raising a family would keep his plate full. But the man’s drive is relentless. Beyond logistics, Kotak also loves food and beverages, especially beer and wine. A business trip to China over a decade ago sprouted a love for the German-style Tsingtao lager, which was his regular companion during meals with associates.
He enjoyed it so much that he met with the brand owners and scored the distribution rights for India. He also has the WSET Level Three Award for wines, which requires an obsessive knowledge of terroir, viticulture and winemaking practices, and more. Beyond that, Kotak used to run several successful bars in Mumbai. Unfortunately, the pandemic shuttered them.
Here in Singapore, he runs modern Indian restaurant Ahara with his wife Simran and acclaimed chef Vikramjit Roy. He met the latter through a friend. Kotak manages the wine programme and leaves everything else to his life and business partners.
“My wife and I don’t have disagreements about the restaurant,” he says, laughing. “Truthfully, we are always on the same page. She’s great with the design, the customer touchpoints, and the entire experience. I deal with the more boring aspects, such as finance. I’ve dealt with many people in my life and believe me when I say that she’s the easiest person I’ve ever worked with.”
He’s not done yet. Kotak also owns a quick-service restaurant called The Kathi Roll Co., which serves kathi rolls, consisting of roasted kebabs wrapped in paratha rolls. It’s a highly loved Indian street food with multiple variants, and he serves his version at two outlets in Resorts World Sentosa and Changi Business Park.
While these different businesses feed his stomach, Kotak also wanted something to nourish his soul. He found that in art and philanthropy. The former was a passion that started from a young age.
“My grandparents loved art and music. My grandfather always had art hanging at home and would surround himself with creatives, so I grew up in this environment. When I was living in London, my grandmother took me to see all the different museums in the city, such as the Tate Modern. It opened my mind to the idea that art can be so many different things.”
One show, however, that left an indelible mark on his mind was a Roy Lichtenstein Perspective. Before, art was all about technicalities and metaphors. Lichtenstein’s blend of high and low art, and comic book approach to his subjects, made Kotak realise that art could be, well, cool. His childhood of cartoons and fictional characters came to life in ways he couldn’t imagine.
Kotak’s love for contemporary art caught the attention of some curators for the Tate Modern. Life, with all its meandering twists and turns, has a way of going full circle to where it all began. From a teenager wandering through the aisles of the museum, Kotak and his wife were invited to be part of the Tate Modern South Asia Acquisition Committee together with his wife. In this role, the husband and wife, together with other members, give their recommendations and opinions on the museum’s possible acquisitions.
Kotak is wearing a linen blazer, from Loro Piana. On his wrist is a Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar in white gold, from Audemars Piguet.Photo: Mun Kong. 
The shirt is his own.Photo: Mun Kong
Of course, Kotak isn’t just content to collect art (he estimates he has at least 500 pieces) as most other collectors would be. The man with the unquenchable thirst to be better today than he was yesterday combined his love for art and philanthropy to form several foundations. One of them is The Eight Foundation, which supports contemporary artists through shows, galleries, and other initiatives.
“The other is the Andaman Conservancy Foundation, which is focused on conserving the fragile and highly diverse natural environment of the Andaman Islands. We have a brilliant CEO running that,” says Kotak.
The avid diver has a residence in the archipelago and spends several months there annually to decompress and plunge into the deep blue. The foundation came about because he wanted to tackle the plastic pollution dredging up on shores and the deterioration and bleaching of coral reefs. That terrible sight of the marine life he so loved suffering so much pained his heart, so he took action.
Kotak is proud to share that the foundation also only hires locals and, in his typical gung-ho fashion, he’s marrying sustainability with his love for art. He’s now working out a residency programme where artists can stay at his Andaman house for up to six months to work on their craft. To accommodate the creatives, he’s building an annex.
“It’s a stunning piece of land with a huge, expansive view of the ocean and forest. Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere, you have access to a lot of nature. We’re going to build different studios—ceramic, woodworking, and even upcycling—so residents can have access to all the tools they need to create,” says Kotak.
He isn’t just limiting it to artists. The residency is open to anyone in the creative industry or who deals with creativity regularly, such as writers, chefs, filmmakers or even mixologists. “Contemporary art needs cross-industry and -cultural connections. That’s how creativity thrives and grows.”
He applies the same philosophy to his two children. Both are boys. Seeing them grow and develop daily gives him incredible joy. “It’s like meeting a new person each day,” he says, laughing.
Like most parents, Kotak gives them space to explore their interests. His youngest is currently heavily invested in mixed martial arts, while the elder brother loves racing. The typical conservative Asian parent might sound the alarm bells, but he remains zen about their risky pursuits. “I’m actually impressed by their courageous souls. The both of them have no fear and their bravery inspires me.”
The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, it seems. After all, not too long ago, a young Kotak displayed the same bravado, jumping on an older and bigger bully to save his brother without any hesitation.
Over three decades later, an older, wiser Kotak is still seizing the day. “On a fundamental level, I believe we overestimate the impact that we are capable of making on the world. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make a difference,” he says.
Instead, he focuses on micro-impact, or the idea that he did his best every day and perhaps influencing a diner who enjoyed the food at his restaurant or inspiring an artist to create a work of art. To Kotak, that is a life well lived.
Photography Mun Kong
Style and Art Direction Chia Wei Choong
Makeup and hair Bryant Lee, using Schwarzkopf and Dior Beauty
Photography Assistant Melvin Leong
