The 'other' in brother: Boris and Jo Johnson, Malvinder and Shivinder Singh - famous siblings turned rivals

One urged his sibling to mend his ways, another allegedly blamed his for their failure.

Siblings who fall out make for a riveting, though heart-breaking, tale.

1. Harvey and Bob Weinstein

In a recent book, the reporters from The New York Times, who first broke the story of sexual harassment by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, revealed a letter from his brother and business partner, Bob. In the letter, Bob urges Harvey to seek medical treatment for what the former mistakenly thought was sex addiction. “You have brought shame to the family and your company through your misbehaviour,” Bob wrote in the letter. “Your reaction was once more to blame the victims, or to minimise the misbehaviour in various ways. If you think nothing is wrong with your misbehaviour so in this area, then announce it to your wife and family.”

2. Boris and Jo Johnson
Joseph ‘Jo’ Johnson is the younger brother of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Jo is also the former Member of Parliament for Orpington, London, and a member of his brother’s cabinet overseeing business and education.

In a tweet, Jo said, “It’s been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs. In recent weeks, I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest — it’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister.” Jo campaigned strongly against Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2016, a position that put him at odds with his more famous brother.


3. Khodadad Irani and Sheriar Irani
The Western India Bakers Pvt Ltd, makers of the eponymous Wibs bread, temporarily took its products off the shelves following a family dispute. Wibs is owned by Khodadad Irani and brothers Hoshang and Sheriar. Khodadad recently filed a petition in the Bombay High Court to dissolve the partnership after a dispute with Sheriar, following the death of Hoshang earlier this month. According to reports, a settlement has been reached and production resumed last week.

4. Malvinder and Shivinder Singh
In February, Malvinder Singh filed a complaint against brother Shivinder Singh and the head of the Radha Soami Satsang, Gurinder Singh Dhillon, alleging financial fraud and death threats. The Singh brothers helmed Ranbaxy and Fortis Healthcare before losing control of both the companies. Malvinder’s complaint said, “Gurinder Singh Dhillon has threatened the complainant through his lawyer Ferida Chopra that if he did not agree to the demands of Gurinder Singh Dhillon, he would be eliminated by persons from the Radha Soami Satsang.”

The trouble between the brothers became public in September 2018 with Shivinder formally distancing himself from his brother and blaming Malvinder for the problems with Fortis Healthcare Group. A few months later, the battle reached a new low, with Malvinder alleging that he was assaulted by Shivinder.


5. David and Charles Koch
In August, David Koch of Koch Industries, which is America’s second-largest privately held company, passed away. David and his brother Charles ran the multi-billion dollar company. David was Manhattan’s wealthiest resident and was socially more prominent than his brother Charles, who lived in Kansas away from the limelight. Charles is reportedly the brains behind the company’s success. In June 2018, David retired from Koch Industries and it has been reported in The New Yorker that Charles allegedly pushed David out of the family business.