Vedanta’s Chairman Anil Agarwal shared the heartbreaking news of his son Agnivesh’s passing, calling it “the darkest day of my life.” At the age of 49, Agnivesh had been recuperating at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York after a skiing accident but tragically suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
“No words can capture the anguish of a parent saying farewell to his child,” Agarwal expressed. “A son should not depart before his father. This loss has left us shattered in ways we are still trying to understand.”
Agnivesh was born on June 3, 1976, in Patna, growing up in a middle-class Bihari family. He studied at Mayo College, Ajmer, and later founded Fujeirah Gold before becoming the Chairman of Hindustan Zinc. Agarwal noted that his son remained “simple, warm and deeply human,” despite all his accomplishments.
Today is the darkest day of my life.
My beloved son, Agnivesh, left us far too soon. He was just 49 years old, healthy, full of life, and dreams. Following a skiing accident in the US, he was recovering well in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. We believed the worst was behind us.… pic.twitter.com/hDQEDNI262— Anil Agarwal (@AnilAgarwal_Ved) January 7, 2026
“For me, he was more than a son; he was my companion, my pride, my everything,” Agarwal remarked. He emphasized that Agnivesh dreamed of a self-reliant India and was committed to giving back to society.
“I promised Agni that over 75% of our earnings would be returned to the community. Today, I reaffirm that promise and aim to lead an even simpler life,” he stated.
Agarwal concluded: “Beta, you will forever reside in our hearts, in our endeavors, and in every life you influenced. I will strive to carry your light forward.”
First Published: Jan 7, 2026 10:26 PM IST
