The prospect of an economic recovery added new sheen to his $2.1 billion (revenues) Asian Paints, Asia's third largest paints company, which has found a spot among Forbes Asia's Fab 50 companies for four years in a row. It is expanding manufacturing capacity and has also entered the home improvement segment. After buying modular kitchen specialist Sleek last year, it recently acquired Ess Ess, a bathroom fittings firm.