The New Polo Czar of India

Mr. Mistry — A Dynamic Force in Business and Innovation.

Born into a lower-middle-class Parsi family in the suburbs of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Jimmy Mistry faced financial limitations from an early age. Unable to afford the vehicles he dreamed of, he turned to technical ingenuity. At 15, he modified a basic bicycle into a unique prototype and sold it immediately. With the proceeds, he purchased a standard motorcycle, redesigned it to a higher standard, and sold it again. This chain of modifications culminated when he transformed a conventional model into a professional racing machine that graced the cover of a magazine. To acquire his first personal motorcycle, a second-hand Yamaha RX100, he sold his mother’s jewellery and combined it with his father’s annual bonus.

“My whole life has been about modifications, creating a product that is unique,” reflects Mistry, who continues to identify as a motorcyclist, a central element of his personal brand.

At 19, he moved to Mumbai to study mechanical engineering. Although he eventually left the course, he applied his skills practically. In 1991, without any initial capital, he founded his first business, Mistry Pest Control. In order to raise the US$ 240 needed to open an office, he sold his own motorcycle. While in the metropolis, he recognized a significant commercial gap: there was no established market for designer furniture in India.

In 1995, he travelled to Italy seeking suppliers and, after more than thirty failed attempts, convinced a manufacturer to partner with him. This agreement enabled him to open the first Italian furniture store in India.

That achievement marked the start of a prolific thirty-year journey. Mistry leveraged his success in furniture sales to expand into interior design, eventually establishing a footprint in nationwide property development. Over the years, he has designed more than 250 corporate offices for local and global firms, created Della Adventure Park—India's first extreme adventure park—and founded the Della Leaders Club, a platform for entrepreneurs. He currently resides in a penthouse atop Della Tower, a 21-storey Persian-inspired building in Mumbai, where he hosts gatherings for over 250 business leaders and celebrities.

All of this experience converges in his role as founder of Della Group and its flagship initiative, Della Townships. The project embodies his vision of treating real estate not as construction alone, but as a people-centric ecosystem.

Within this environment, equestrian sports form a central part of the experience, integrated harmoniously with luxury retail, experiential hospitality, and medical wellness. Ultimately, Mistry has evolved from a traditional developer into a design-led lifestyle operator.

The project operates under a minimal-capital-risk model. Unlike traditional developers who focus on land ownership, Della Townships partners with landowners to transform spaces into high-performance destinations, managing the entire lifecycle from concept to operation. This strategic approach has established the company a case study in profitability.

By early 2026, Della Group manages a global portfolio with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of US$ 5.45 billion, projected to exceed US$ 6.44 billion by year-end. This growth supports a targeted annual revenue of US$ 83.5 million for the 2027 fiscal year.

PROJECTS: A NEW ERA IN EQUESTRIANISM

The group is overseeing a series of exclusive developments across India, placing polo and horse racing at the centre of a distinctive lifestyle concept. Under the guidance of equestrian experts, projects have been launched in Pune, Raipur, Nagpur (Bor), and Bhopal (Ratapani). Collectively, these four initiatives represent a total Gross Development Value (GDV) of US$ 1.061 billion.

The business model centres on management and design. Through the CDDMO system, the company operates as a developer-manager, allowing it to capture approximately 15% of the gross development value as fees.

What sets these developments apart is not just the infrastructure, but the lifestyle they foster. The presence of a polo club or racetrack acts as an economic driver for the surrounding area.

Property values for nearby villas typically rise by 30% to 50% compared to traditional local real estate, reflecting the appeal of this integrated approach. The financial sustainability of the projects relies on recurring services that keep daily operations active.

POLO CLUB IN PUNE

The Della Racecourse & International Polo Club is located in North Hinjewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, approximately 100 kilometres from Mumbai. The development positions polo at the heart of the community, seamlessly integrating residential life with the equestrian world.  The project represents a GDV of US$ 150 million.

The project is a 40-acre township within a larger 105-acre development, realised in collaboration with Hiranandani Communities and Krisala Developers. It is designed so that polo and horse racing are not merely complementary activities, but the foundational element around which the entire environment is organised. This is India’s first development with direct frontage onto a racetrack, seamlessly combining residences, sport, hospitality, and wellness in a single location.

At the heart of the project is the equestrian component. An eight-acre private racetrack forms the core, accompanied by an international polo club with riding schools, stables, paddocks, and areas for show-jumping. Dedicated pony rides further introduce residents to equestrian life from a young age.

From this nucleus, the development expands into residential areas. There are 128 plots for private villas with direct views of the racetrack, alongside resort-style residences designed in a “Contemporary Organic” architectural style. Additionally, the project incorporates senior living spaces with access to integrated medical wellness services.

Hospitality and events are key to the lifestyle offering. A five-star luxury resort features 300 units, including a glamping resort with equipped tents, king-size beds, and private jacuzzis. Furthermore the project provides nine wedding venues and twelve spaces for corporate events. A colonial-inspired clubhouse completes the precinct, designed with a covered terrace, landscaped spectator stands, and a rooftop infinity-edge pool.

Additional lifestyle amenities encompass an adventure park and a medical wellness ecosystem focused on longevity, offering anti-ageing programs, oxygen areas, red light therapy, and an IV infusion lab. These are complemented by a retail boulevard consisting of designer brands, restaurants, and a weekly producers’ market. Completing the recreational landscape is the dedicated space, Della Top Golf.

The development is currently in it's pre-launch phase. The initial stage, comprising the resort and villa plots, is scheduled for completion in early 2026, while the residences are expected to be delivered between late 2026 and 2029, depending on the phase. Addi-tionally, project is in the process of obtaining IGBC Platinum certification for sustainability.

POLO CLUB IN RAIPUR

In the heart of New Raipur, the Della Racecourse & International Polo Club is emerging as the first fully integrated equestrian-themed development in Chhattisgarh. Spanning 55 acres, the project places the horse at the centre of daily life, combining high-level polo with residential living and well-being. The development is valued at US$ 244 million.

An 8.7-acre private racetrack forms the core of the complex, designed to host live matches, dressage, and show-jumping events. Surrounding the track lies the International Polo Club, a 5,000-square-metre social and cultural space that blends the excitement of the sport with fine dining and community life.

Polo shapes the rhythm of the community. Each resident holds a lifetime membership, granting direct access to the facilities and integrating the experience of watching matches from open terraces into the daily routine.

The equestrian infrastructure features climate-controlled stables for over 50 horses, alongside a riding school offering professional training and internal trails that traverse the landscape.

Operational standards are reinforced through a partnership with Menard Polo, a UK-based firm. Under Antonino Menard, who brings over 15 years of experience as a professional player and manager at the Ham Polo Club in London, the project follows international standards for tournaments and training, ensuring elite-level sport.

Residential development expands outward from this sporting hub. The project comprises 182 private villas oriented towards the racetrack, utilizing expansive glass surfaces to maximise views, together with 224 residences across seven nine-story towers that keep the equestrian landscape as a constant visual focus.

Strategically located, the site sits just 20 minutes from Raipur International Airport and 35 minutes from the city centre, creating a community where polo serves as the organising principle of daily life.

POLO CLUB IN NAGPUR

Near the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra, just an hour from the international airport, the Della Bor Wildlife Reserve & Racecourse is taking shape. The development presents a singular vision: polo as the central organising principle, set within a landscape designed as a natural reserve. Designed by Jimmy Mistry, the project spans 400 acres and represents a GDV of US$ 417 million.

The heart of the development balances sport and conservation. Equestrian activity structures the space through an International Polo Club with three fields, complemented by race facilities and stables for 50 horses. The complex is integrated into a wildlife sanctuary, with architecture that respects natural corridors and maintains the continuity of the landscape.

The development expands into a varied residential offering, branching out from this equestrian nucleus. Plans include 900 plots for private villas designed in a tropical modernist style. Additionally, 192 resort-style residences sit across eight four-story buildings, together with 200 studios aimed at young professionals.

The entire development operates under the CDDMO integrated management model, ensuring that polo and equestrian life remain the organizing framework connecting residence, leisure, and landscape.

POLO CLUB IN BHOPAL

In the Saras area, south of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, the Della Ratapani Wildlife Reserve & Racecourse is in development.

Part of the “Equestrian & Wildlife” line, the project positions polo as the defining element of the environment.

The master plan merges residential life with the equestrian world, utiliying its proximity to the Ratapani Reserve to integrate natural corridors that connect the untouched landscape with the inhabited areas. The development is valued at US$ 250 million.

The infrastructure includes a private racetrack and high-level equestrian facilities, such as professional training areas, riding schools, and stables with climate-controlled systems. These facilities are designed as an organic part of the overall layout.

From this polo-centric anchor, the development expands into residential areas, offering a combination of luxury apartments and plots for private villas. Hospitality is integrated through a five-star resort, providing accommodation options ranging from glamping tents to colonial-style suites, designed to complement the surrounding environment.

Strategically positioned near Bhopal, the “City of Lakes,” the complex uses the forested landscape of the Ratapani Reserve as its defining visual identity. Currently in its pre-launch phase, the project establishes a structure where polo and the natural environment remain the dominant features.