For decades, the Indian dream of "Roti, Kapda, aur Makaan" (Food, Clothing, and Shelter) has been anchored by the final, most elusive pillar: the home.
As we step into 2026, the landscape of Indian real estate is undergoing a tectonic shift.
We are no longer just buying shelter; we are buying "smart homes" in Tier-2 cities, investing in sustainable villas in Alibaug, and seeking digital-first loans that are approved in hours, not weeks.
Manoj Viswanathan is the "Tech Evangelist" of the sector. He built Home First on a simple premise: Why does a home loan need to be complicated? An alumnus of BITS Pilani and XLRI, Viswanathan treats housing finance like a software problem.
Under his leadership, Home First was one of the first to introduce 48-hour approvals and paperless processing for the affordable segment. He is the antithesis of the traditional, suit-wearing banker.
Why Watch Him in 2026:
In 2026, Viswanathan is expected to double down on "Data Science as Collateral." He is building models that can predict a borrower's repayment capacity based on alternative data points.
For the young, gig-economy worker or the freelancer who struggles to get a loan from traditional banks, Viswanathan is the leader making finance accessible. His focus for the coming year is likely to be on expanding into southern markets and reducing the cost of borrowing through tech efficiencies.
Manish Shah is the "Challenger." As the head of the Godrej Group’s financial arm, he has the unique advantage of a 127-year-old brand legacy combined with the agility of a startup.
Shah has scaled Godrej Capital at a breakneck speed, introducing flexible products like "Design Your EMI." He understands that the modern home buyer wants flexibility, not rigid repayment structures.
Why Watch Him in 2026:
Shah is building an ecosystem, not just a loan book. In 2026, expect him to leverage the synergy with Godrej Properties. He is creating a "One-Stop-Shop" where a customer buys a Godrej home and gets a Godrej loan seamlessly.
For the premium home buyer, Shah is introducing "bundled" propositions—loans that come with insurance and home improvement financing built-in. He is redefining the concept of a "Lifetime Value" customer in the mortgage industry.
Rakesh Singh is the "Integrated Strategist." Recently elevated to oversee the entire NBFC lending ecosystem of Aditya Birla Capital, Singh is a powerhouse.
He believes in the power of convergence—bringing personal finance, SME lending, and housing finance under one umbrella. His leadership style is aggressive yet structured, focusing on cross-selling to the massive Aditya Birla customer base.
Why Watch Him in 2026:
Singh’s vision for 2026 is the "ABCD" model (Aditya Birla Capital Digital). He is driving a platform-based approach where a customer can access housing finance through a super-app. For the corporate employee or the SME owner, Singh is crafting tailored housing products that account for business cash flows.
He is a leader to watch for his ability to scale "Prime Housing" lending in highly competitive urban markets like Mumbai and NCR.
Also Read: Grihum Housing Finance: Democratizing Home Ownership for Real Bharat
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