For decades, the Singh family behind the Delhi-based Ranbaxy-Max-Montari group of companies was known by its men.
There was the redoubtable patriarch, late Bhai Mohan Singh, and his son, Ranbaxy's visionary, late Parvinder Singh. Parvinder's brother Analit made the first big-bang deal in India's telecom sector by handing over the control of Hutchison Max to Hutchison.
Later, his Max India made forays into insurance, healthcare and information technology. In recent times, Parvinder's sons, Malvinder and Shivinder, have been in the limelight.
It was only recently -- early this month -- that the first female name from the family made it to the headlines and breaking news slot.
On July 4, the Delhi Police received a complaint about an ''illegal construction'' at a property on New Delhi's posh Aurangzeb Road locality, the subject of a long-running dispute between Analjit and his nephews, Malvinder and Shivinder.
The complaint was that a mob of 40-50 people, armed, came to the property, began constructing a wall and threatened the members of Parvinder's family.
That call, according to the police, was made by Nimmi Singh, Parvinder's wife.
Next, Nimmi Singh was all over the place: newspaper reports, a court case (as a co-petitioner with her sons in Delhi High Court against Analjit) and interviews on news channels.
She persisted that the mob was sent by Analjit -- who has vehement denied the charge -- and that it abused, man-handled and threatened her and others of her family. Soon, a VCD started doing the rounds in which she was shown recording the constructions.
Nimmi Singh is the daughter of the earlier Maharaj of the Radhsoami Satsang, Beas. Her marriage with Parvinder Singh was arranged by Bharat Ram's wife, who was a devout follower of the Maharaj.
It was only after marrying her that Parvinder Singh got associated with the Satsang. Over the years, the Maharaj became his spiritual guru. To the extent, there was a strong rumour at one time that Parvinder Singh would take over as the leader of the Satsang from his father-in-law.
Until the recent spat, Nimmi Singh has never been seen in the media. Neither when the family split its business into three in 1989 nor when Bhai Mohan Singh and Parvider Singh had an ugly fight over control of Ranbaxy four years later.
With Bhai Mohan Singh dead and a fracas breaking out over the family's property at Auranzeb Road, Nimmi Singh has had no choice but to come out in the open. Sources close to the family said she has done so with extreme reluctance.
