CJ Roy: How Rs 8,000-cr Bengaluru realty tycoon who produced Mohanlal’s Casanova learnt property tricks from his mother
Roy’s rise is a mix of timing, patience, and bold bets on territory overlooked by others. It got its first big break on Sarjapur Road in Bengaluru, long before it became a tech corridor.
CJ Roy learned real estate at home
Roy grew up in central Bengaluru and watched his mother quietly buy, build houses and sell 30-40 sites at a time. He managed the accounts of these agreements by adopting the operation of land transactions and cash flows.
This grounding helped him make calculated decisions later. Reflecting on his early life, he once said: “I came into business of my own free will, but entrepreneurship happened by chance.”
CJP Roy bets on the outskirts of Bengaluru
While most developers in 2001 were focusing on central Bengaluru, Roy looked at the city’s periphery. Sarjapur Road was a quiet agricultural land at that time and land per acre was selling for around Rs 6 lakh. Many found this too far-fetched. Roy saw the potential.
“With Whitefield emerging on one side and Electronic City booming on the other, I felt Sarjapura could be the middle ground connecting the city’s IT workforce,” he said.
He invested 150-200 acres, a decision that was opposed by family members and company executives. Only his wife supported him. The gamble paid off: land prices in Sarjapur subsequently rose almost tenfold.
Self-Reliant Group: Debt-free and global
Roy founded Confident Group in 1991. It has assets worth Rs 2,039 billion as of March 31, 2025. The company follows a debt-free model and has completed 159 projects in India, UAE and the USA.
The group focuses on real estate, education and hospitality. The flagship 3,000-crore Zion Hill Golf County project in Bengaluru is one of its most high-profile developments.
Kerala success with TV shows
Roy’s expansion into Kerala was not without problems. Their first project near Kochi did not find buyers despite roadshows. This changed by a coincidence in Mumbai: He was offered an apartment as a reward for a reality show and became the show’s brand ambassador. This exposure brought it widespread recognition, and flat sales soon followed.
CJ Roy’s car collection
Roy bought his first car, a Maruti, in 1994. The experience stuck with him when a salesman reportedly fired him. He later amassed a luxury car collection that included 12 Rolls-Royce vehicles (a Phantom VIII), Lamborghinis and a Bugatti Veyron. He had once revealed that he paid Rs 18 lakh insurance per Rolls-Royce and the total insurance costs ran into billions.
Years later, he bought back his first Maruti car and offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to find it.
Beyond real estate: Malayalam entertainment
Roy also ventured into the Malayalam entertainment industry by producing films including Casanova in 2012. Confident Group became the title sponsor of popular shows like Star Singer and Bigg Boss Malayalam, further boosting Roy’s public profile.
CJ Roy had 13 lakh Instagram followers
Despite disabling comments, Roy had 1.3 million Instagram followers. His last post was a Republic Day greeting: ‘Happy Republic Day’, shared with a smiling photo in a blue jacket. His posts included luxury cars, helicopters, family moments and updates on his projects.
