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Non-Resident Indian film director Shekhar Kapur has joined the Asian millionaires' list spearheaded by NRI steel industrialist Lakshmi Mittal, even as the combined wealth of 300 Asian millionaires in the United Kingdom showed an astounding increase of £6 billion pounds during the last one year.
According to the Asian Rich List brought out by Sunrise Radio and compiled by Dr Philip Beresford, author of the Sunday Times Rich List, Mittal who owns the world's second largest steel company, LNM, has managed not only to maintain his position as the UK's wealthiest Asian but has also increased his net wealth by a staggering £2.1 billion.
His net worth for the year 2004 has been put at £3.5 billion.
Joining the illustrious millionaires is Kapur, who directed the Oscar-winning film Elizabeth and has recently worked alongside Lord Lloyd Andrew Webber on the hit West End show Bombay Dreams.
According to Beresford, Kapur is worth £4 million.
As a sequel the combined wealth of the 300 Asian millionaires has gone up to £14.3 billion -- an overall increase of £6 billion from last year.
The Hinduja brothers, who have reclaimed their position as runners up have redeemed themselves and managed to improve their fortunes, despite looming court cases and continuing controversy, Beresford told newsmen.
"It has without doubt been a good year for G P and S P Hinduja, with an overall increase in their net worth of £2.1 billion -- up from £800 million last year," he said.
This year's new entry included Sterlite Chairman Anil Aggarwal, who restructured his operations and created a new holding company, Vedanta Resources early last year. Agarwal's stake at £537 million has fallen since flotation of his company and the stake is now worth £509 million, Beresford said.
This year's list also sees the introduction of 31 new millionaires worth £868 million. They included Jass Raykanda of Birmingham based mobile phone company Waves International (£35 million), Sudhargara and Ajmail Dusanj, who turned the fortunes of flagging Liverpool brewery Robert Cain and Co around with the introduction of 2008 ale (£25.6 million), Sanjay Vadera, who owns Manchester based perfume wholesale company Per Scent (£8 million), Vinod Khanna who has made his fortune from the huge Indian wedding industry (£5 million).
Khanna owns the Clay Oven banqueting suites in Wembley and provides luxurious wedding receptions for Asian community.
After the Hindujas, the third in the list are Mike Jatania and family, Lornamead International (£650 million) followed by Anil Aggarwal (£540 million), Vijay and Bhikhu Patel, Waymade Healthcare (£425 million), Gulu Lalvani, Binatone (£400 million), Jasminder Singh and family, Edwardian Group (£350 million), Tom Singh, New Look (£295 million), Bharat and Ketan Mehta, Necessity Supplies (£175 million) and Sir Anwar Pervez, Bestway (£175 million).
Dr Avtar Lit, chairman of Sunrise Radio and publisher of the list said: "The Asian Rich List 2004 highlights the success of the Asian community in the UK and their contribution to the UK economy. We again see the amazing resilience and entrepreneurship of the UK's Asian business community."