Mukesh and Anil Ambani, known for their bitter battle ever since they parted ways in 2005, will once again come together under the same roof tomorrow on the occasion of the 75th birthday of mother Kokilaben, triggering a speculation of a possible rapprochement between the two.
There have been reports time and again about a possible reunion between the two ever since they shook hands at an industrialists' meet convened by Opposition Leader L K Advani at his residence in the national capital in late last year.
The family reunion at the celebrations on Tuesday would see the two siblings coming face to face for the third time in less than two months.
No comments could be obtained from spokespersons of both the sides despite several attempts. Kokilaben had hammered a truce deal between Mukesh and Anil to end more than a year-long ugly battle being fought in the public domain.
A family source indicated that it had always been Kokilaben's endeavour to ensure that past should not come in the way of the relationship in the family, while the two brothers continue to grow their businesses.
Since their famous hand-shake at a meeting of corporate leaders called by Advani to discuss the impact of the global financial meltdown, the two have met twice in family get together -- family patriarch Dhirubhai Ambani's birth anniversary on December 28 and then for 25th marriage anniversary of their sister Dipti Salgaocar on December 31.
The brothers could start putting behind differences at their mother Kokilaben's 75th birthday celebrations on Tuesday, believe the market observers, who have always favoured a patch-up and a possible union of the two brothers.
It was Kokilaben, the Ambani family matriarch, who oversaw the division of the Reliance business empire in June 2005 that saw the petrochemical business going to Mukesh and other businesses, including telecom, to Anil. This is precisely why expectations are running high that even the patch-up could occur in her presence.
At the beginning of this year, brokerage firm SMC Global's vice-president Rakesh Jain said that his wish-list for investors' benefit in 2009 was topped by a truce between the two brothers. Ashika Stock Brokers' Paras Bothra had said that a reunion, to put in one word, would be "positive" for investors and it did not seem unlikely.
Kejriwal Research and Investment Services' Arun Kejriwal had said one should not rule out any possibility, especially after a settlement was reached between the Bajaj brothers.
