20 global Indians

From Silicon Valley to the boardrooms of Wall Street and Canary Wharf, overseas Indians have long walked the corridors of global corporate power. Now they are also making a mark in world politics, cinema and art.

When immigrants around the world are feeling under siege, the Indian diaspora is coming of age and defying stereotypes. In the US, the daughter of Sikh immigrants from Amritsar is the unlikely face of President Donald Trump's foreign policy at the UN, while the daughter of a Chennai doctor, elected the country's first Indian-origin senator, is emerging among Trump's fiercest opponents.

In the UK, another daughter of India, born to Gujarati immigrants who fled persecution in Uganda, became one of the most prominent campaigners for Brexit. Indians overseas are emerging among the most powerful advocates for tolerance and openness. From the CEOs of the world's two biggest tech giants to actors and artists, they have spoken strongly as the movement of people across borders comes under increasing threat.

The world listens when they speak. And at a time of growing global uncertainty, their voices are needed more than ever before.

Rank: 1 SUNDAR PICHAI

Age: 44, CEO, Google Inc.

THE FUTURIST

Because he became the highest-paid CEO in the US last year and is worth close to $1 billion.

Because he has taken forward Google's transformation into the world's most advanced player in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

Because he took a public stand against US President Donald Trump's immigration ban when silence would have been a much safer option as a prominent CEO, and raised $4 million for refugees from Syria.

Because he is betting big on Digital India, with Wi-Fi enabled by Google now being used by millions in more than 110 railway stations.

FEELING LUCKY

Returning to his alma mater IIT Kharagpur this year, he not only left students inspired but also in splits over how he had to sneak into the women's hostel as he courted fellow student Anjali, now his wife.

Age: 49, CEO, Microsoft Corp.

CLOUD NINE

Because Microsoft stock is now trading at the highest levels since the year 2000, and he has accomplished what naysayers warned three years ago was Mission Impossible-reviving the sleeping tech giant.

Because he has made Microsoft cool again after a lost decade where it was left eating the dust of Apple, Facebook and Google, with the company last year introducing a well-received new tablet and Xbox.

ALL IN THE FAMILY Nadella has known his wife, Anupama, since childhood. Both Nadella senior, B.N. Yugandhar, and Anupama's father, K.R. Venugopal, served as secretaries to P.V. Narasimha Rao.

WORDSMITH

Nadella's book Hit Refresh will be published this autumn.

Age: 45, US Ambassador to the United Nations

TRUMP CARD

Because she is now the face of the Trump administration to the world and has the unenviable task of reassuring 200-plus countries that he won't be a disaster.

Because she has become for the world's diplomats a key conduit to the still unpredictable Trump White House and will play a major role in shaping India's relations with Trump's America.

Because the former South Carolina governor was confirmed in her new post with 96 senators' support and only four against.

IN HER FOOTSTEPS

Haley, born Nimrata Randhawa, has said the example of her mother Raj Kaur Randhawa, who according to Haley could have become India's first female judge if not disallowed by family, will spur her on to fight for women's rights.

Age: 77, Co-chairman, Hinduja Group

ENVOY AT LARGE

Because the Mumbai-born British tycoon known as 'GP' and brother Srichand P. Hinduja remain UK's richest Asian with a net worth of $24 billion.

Because he is set to play a key role in India's relations with post-Brexit Britain.

Because he has been consistently bullish on India's economic prospects, now emerging as a brand ambassador for the Modi government.

Because he is pledging $10 billion to invest in distressed infrastructure, power projects and solar plants for 1 GW in India.

PIECE OF HISTORY

The group clinched a ?350 million deal in 2016 to acquire the War Office Building, once Winston Churchill's office, for a luxury hotel project.

Age: 61, Chairperson and CEO, PepsiCo

FORTUNE'S FAVOURITE

Because she was appointed to Donald Trump's newly created strategic policy forum that will set the economic agenda for the new administration.

Because she has batted strongly for women in male-dominated corporate America.

Because PepsiCo stock rose 10 per cent last year, earning Nooyi a 15 per cent hike in compensation to $29.8 million for her leadership.

IN LETTER AND SPIRIT

Nooyi writes more than 400 letters to the parents of PepsiCo's employees every year, thanking them for the contributions of their children.

Age: 63, Founder and Chairman, Vedanta Resources

GOLD MINE

Because he has steered the resources giant through turbulent times in world commodity markets, diversified the group's interests, and is now reaping the benefits as prices rebound.

Because he has in the past year expanded the company's presence in India, from the country's first $10 billion LCD manufacturing plant that will come online next year to the long-planned mega merger with Cairn India.

UNDER FIRE

The company has been attempting an image makeover, from clean energy projects to sponsoring events such as the Jaipur Lit Fest in London, after criticism for reported environmental violations and displacing tribal people for its Niyamgiri mining project in Odisha.

Age: 52, US Senator

ONE TO WATCH

Because the daughter of a doctor from Chennai became the first Indian-American to be elected to the US Senate, from California.

Because she lent a powerful voice to the millions who joined the women's march on Washington the day after Trump's inauguration, pledging to continue the fight on issues such as abortion.

Because Harris, an attorney, is becoming a leading figure in reviving the Democratic Party as it searches for new leadership after Hillary Clinton's defeat.

QUICK START

The first bill introduced by Harris was to guarantee legal access for those detained under President Donald Trump's travel ban.

Age: 53, Chairman, President & CEO, Adobe Systems

DIGITAL DON

Because he was elected this year as chairman of Adobe Systems to add to his titles of CEO and president, a strong vote of confidence on his record of leading one of the world's most recognised digital companies.

Because Adobe reported record revenues of $5.85 billion last year.

Because he has shepherded Adobe's transformation from a software provider to one of the biggest global cloud computing powerhouses.

BEFORE INSTAGRAM

Narayen first founded Pictra, a digital photo-sharing company, before joining Adobe in 1998.

Age: 56, President and CEO, MasterCard

SMART CARD

Because one of the world's biggest digital payments companies grew under his leadership last year, with its stock rising by a record 22 per cent.

Because the Delhi University and IIM graduate heads the influential US India Business Council, which will play a key role in advising Donald Trump's Washington on ties with India.

Because he spoke out for immigrants after Trump's 'Muslim ban' despite being part of the President's CEOs Town Hall.

HERO OF THE HUNGRY

Under Banga, MasterCard was felicitated by the World Food Programme for enabling electronic payments for more than 2 million Syrian refugees.

Age: 53, Journalist

WORLD'S GPS

Because he re-emerged last year as among America's most credible voices during a turbulent election, overcoming a storm of controversy over plagiarism allegations

Because he remains one of the world's most influential journalists, shaping opinion through his flagship foreign affairs show on CNN and his columns in The Washington Post.

Because he is among the most persuasive advocates of globalisation and free trade at a time when his country is divided over building walls.

TRUMPED UP

The usually sober anchor has surprised viewers with colourful and forthright language he has used for Trump, describing him several times as a "bullsh*t artist" and using the b-word no less than four times on live TV.

80, Chairman, Cipla

THE CRUSADER

Because Cipla is becoming even more global, making inroads into its final frontier, the United States, where it acquired two pharma companies for $550 million.

Because his four decade tenure at Cipla has seen the company emerge as the world's largest producer of antiretrovirals, treating millions in India and Africa at a fraction of the market cost.

Because at 80, the crusader of Cipla is still going strong in his global push to make drugs more affordable.

HISTORY SEEKER

Born to an Indian father and Lithuanian mother, Hamied had a statue in Lithuania built for Hermann Kallenbach, the Jewish Lithuanian architect who was Mahatma Gandhi's close friend in South Africa.

Age: 66, Chairman & CEO, ArcelorMittal

STEEL IN HIS SPINE

Because he doubled his net worth last year, to around $15.9 billion.

Because his company weathered the collapse in the global steel industry. As steel prices recovered, ArcelorMittal recorded its biggest rise in earnings in seven years.

Because his company will, in the coming year, put its weight behind Make in India, completing a joint venture with the Steel Authority of India for a Rs 5,000 crore plant for specialised steel products.

FREE KICK

Possessing a keen interest in sports, Mittal owns a stake in English football club Queens Park Rangers.

26, Actor

THE CUB KING

Because the Slumdog Millionaire star has become the first stop for anyone casting an Indian man in a Hollywood movie.

Because he has built an impressive resume, working with Hollywood's best, from Nicole Kidman in Lion to Jeff Daniels in the critically acclaimed TV series The Newsroom.

Because of his widely praised performance in Lion, which earned him the first BAFTA award, beating favourites Mahershala Ali, Hugh Grant and Jeff Bridges, and a first Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

NET WORTHY

Patel's offscreen charm and humility have added to his popularity. He set the web alight after taking his mother as his date to the Academy Awards and for the adoring looks he gave his young Lion co-star Sunny Pawar.

34, Actor and Comedian

MASTER OF THE LAUGH

Because the Parks and Recreation star underlined his status as one of Hollywood's hottest comedic talents with his critically acclaimed Netflix series Master of None earning him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor.

Because of his eloquent monologue that delivered a stirring call for racial unity, when he was given the honour of becoming the first Indian-origin host of the widely watched show Saturday Night Live, the day after Trump's inauguration.

SUBTEXT

Ansari co-authored a book on dating, Modern Romance, that studied the (often poor) texting habits of millennials. His advice: Don't ever begin a courtship with a generic greeting ("Heyyyy!") and avoid lazy spelling ("Dat wud b gud").

Age: 44, UK Minister for International Development, MP

THE POSTER WOMAN

Because she was a vocal advocate for Britain leaving the EU and played a key role in last year's Brexit campaign.

Because she is a leading figure for the 1.5 million-strong Indian community in Britain. An "Indian diaspora champion", she works to strengthen the community's links with the government.

Because in her dual roles as minister and diaspora champion, Patel is well placed to play a key role in India's economic relations with post-Brexit Britain.

NEO THATCHERITE

Patel is part of a new breed of politicians who, despite their immigrant roots, are staunchly right-wing and Conservative.

Age: 69, Writer

SULTAN OF SURREAL

Because he remains one of the world's most influential writers, evidenced by the huge interest in his soon-to-be-published novel, The Golden House.

Because he speaks truth to power, from advocating against China's imprisonment of writers and activists to lambasting Trump and the fake news tide.

Because he gives as good as he gets on social media, pulling no punches in tweets to his 1.26 million followers.

DELAYED REACTION

The Swedish Academy, which selects the literature Nobel, last year finally condemned Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Rushdie for The Satanic Verses. The 27-year-late condemnation came after Iranian state media outlets raised another $600,000 to add to Khomeini's 'bounty'.

Age: 47, Neurosurgeon and Journalist

TELLY DOCTOR

Because the Emmy Award-winning chief medical correspondent for CNN remains among the world's most influential journalists.

Because the globe-trotting journalist continues to shine his spotlight on global health issues that often struggle to find space in mainstream media.

Because his widely watched CNN show, Vital Signs, has redefined health reporting.

MEDICAL DETECTIVE

Gupta is reportedly in talks with US channel ABC for a new medical drama, based on his life, telling the story of doctors working for a news television channel who travel the country solving medical mysteries.

Age: 42, Designer and Actor

MR MULTI-CULTURAL

Because the Sikh actor and designer, who always wears his turban proudly, has turned prejudice into a message for tolerance-from getting kicked off an Aeromexico flight in 2016 and being called 'Osama bin Laden' in New York to having the NYC mayor declare October 19 as Ahluwalia Day.

Because he has transitioned seamlessly from quirky and memorable roles in the Wes Anderson films The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel to starting his own designer label, House of Waris.

MESSAGE TO TRUMP

Amid a spike in racially motivated attacks, Ahluwalia had a strong message for Trump at the India Today Conclave in March when he said it was time to "find your humanity, find your truth".

Age: 62, Sculptor

ARTIST AS ACTIVIST

Because his sculp-tures and installations have become perhaps the most sought-after landmarks for cities around the world, from Chicago's Cloud Gate to the ArcelorMittal Orbit, Britain's largest piece of public art.

Because he has championed the rights of refugees and become a regular visitor to refugee camps around the world, at a time when many in Europe are championing building walls, not bridges.

Because Kapoor, who is Jewish, last year became the fourth winner of the prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize, sometimes known as the Jewish community's Nobel, and donated his earnings to the cause of refugees.

BLACK MAGIC

Kapoor's studio owns exclusive rights to Vantablack, the blackest artificial substance ever made.

Age: 68, Industrialist

THE CANDIDATE'S CONFIDANT

Because the Chicago businessman was Trump's most prominent Indian-American supporter, claiming to have contributed $4 million to his campaign. His Republican Hindu Coalition hosted a mega bash for him.

Because he enjoyed the ear of Trump the candidate, and will certainly emerge as a key conduit to the White House for Indian interests, even if the actual extent of his influence on Trump the President remains, as per critics, overstated.

BETTING RIGHT

Before Trump, Kumar was an early backer of Modi, arranging for three US Congressmen to visit Gujarat in 2013, pushing an American rethink on the once-barred Modi in the run-up to the 2014 general elections in India.