ALCON’S MAGNATE INTO THEATRE?

BY MELBA MERGULHÃO-CARVALHO ANTÃO

SOMETHING IN COMMON: A still of Anil and Nutan acting in a Marathi natak

ALCON is a well known name in the real estate industry. And Anil Counto has been a force to reckon with in the industry. But not many know that he is an accomplished theatre personality.

 HE IS ONE of eight children of Sadashiv and Indirabai Khaunte of Priol and was born in Mapusa and studied in Mustifund and People’s HS, Panjim. After high school, he joined the prestigious Wilson College, Mumbai and on completion of his Inter Science, he joined the VJTI College, Mumbai in the civil engineering stream.  This 21-year-old civil engineer, Anil Counto, several years later, would become a magnate as Chairman and Managing Director of ALCON Enterprises, Goa!

But it was a long and steady journey towards success.  For five year after graduation the young  engineer worked for in several companies including the PWD, Goa as Asst. Engineer by which time he had enough experience to start his own construction company, Khaunte Engineering Company, Margao.

His first assignment was a bungalow he built for Maruti Raiturkar in South Goa and since then Anil looked only forward undertaking construction of roads, jetties, buildings, etc. Most of the jetties in 1972 that Kaunte Eng. Co. built were for the mine owners, like Dempos, Timblos, Bhandekars, and many more. “In 1973, Victor Albuquerque, who was my colleague in the PWD, joined me and we started ALCON and remained together for 28 eventful years manifesting the communal harmony of Goa,” Anil points out proudly.  Together they built roads, buildings, Dempo shipyard, Murmagao Port Trust sub-station, jetties, etc. “In 1976-77, we undertook a joint venture in Bahrain and were there till 1983 erecting buildings, housing complexes, race courses, etc. Bahrain gave us international experience and exposed us to high standards in the construction sphere,” he affirms. Since tourism was making a headway in Goa, in 1981 they entered the hotel business - Hotel Delmon, Ronil, Dona Sylvia, etc resulted. “But the hotel line was supplementary to our construction business. In the 80s we were into real estate in a big way buying tracks of land and developing them into plots for sale.  Construction was always our primary concern, so in 1994 we entered the cement segment which was a joint venture with ACC and we operate a factory in Surla, Bicholim, for manufacturing cement,” states Anil. In 1998 Anil and Victor parted ways and began separate chapters in their individual lives.  Anil today has a plant at Kundai which prepares ready mix concrete that’s supplied to government, semi-government and private parties.  In fact, their ready mix concrete is being used, at this moment, in IFFI multiplexes, Kala Academy renovation and even the sky bus project.

Anil Counto was an avid theatre artiste as a young man and recounts,  “The youth used to have an annual Marathi drama (natak) outside the Mahalaxmi temple, Panjim.  The topic would be society and family based.   I met my wife Nutan, while acting – she was only 16. The phrase “catch them young” makes a lot of sense.  We acted together in the drama, ‘Diva Jalu De Sari Rat’ in which I was the hero and she the heroine.”  In 1973, he acted in ‘Ghetle Shingwar’ (Catch it by the horns) and received the first price that year. He adds, “Many years later, my wife and I acted together in ‘Lagnachi Bedi’ (Bond of Marriage) at the centenary celebrations of the Mahalaxmi temple in 1991.” Today, at 60, he is no more in theatre but remembers his theatre days with fondness.

This ‘here-today-there-tomorrow’ industrialist says he has no tension.  “I keep myself busy with other activities too. I’m a trustee of Mustifund HS and Chairman of DISHA.  When you are sincere with yourself and you work with dedication, you are at peace and there is calm within you,” he firmly believes.

What’s his mantra of success?  “Honesty, sincerity and dedication, goodwill of the people and having a large friend circle,” concludes Anil Counto, the master builder.