From Real Estate Visionary to Entertainment Mogul: The CJ Roy Story
"Building a home is every man's dream. So our business is in selling dreams," declared Confident Group chairman CJ Roy during a memorable interview, encapsulating his philosophy that would guide his business empire's remarkable expansion.
Real Estate Foundation Across Kerala
The group's real estate operations flourished spectacularly in Roy's native Kerala, where he strategically catered to diverse market segments. From luxury residential properties to compact, affordable housing solutions for middle-income families, Confident Group established a significant presence across multiple cities including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kottayam. This comprehensive approach to real estate development laid the financial foundation for what would become a diversified business conglomerate.
Television Sponsorship Breakthrough
What truly catapulted CJ Roy into household name status across Kerala was his strategic entry into the entertainment industry. As early as 2007, he made a bold move by sponsoring a groundbreaking prize—an apartment valued at Rs 1 crore—for the winner of a popular reality music show on Asianet. This innovative marketing strategy proved immensely successful, establishing Confident Group as a regular sponsor for winner's prizes in subsequent seasons of various reality programs.
The group recently announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for this year's Bigg Boss Malayalam series winner, continuing this successful sponsorship tradition. Many of these television programs achieved major hit status, significantly reinforcing Confident Group's growing influence and brand recognition within Kerala's entertainment sector.
Expansion into Film Production
Encouraged by his television and real estate successes, Roy methodically expanded his business interests into the film industry over the past decade, making substantial investments and creative contributions. His cinematic journey began in 2012 with the Mohanlal-starrer 'Casanovva,' marking Confident Group's formal entry into Malayalam cinema.
Roy went on to fund more than 10 films across Malayalam and Kannada languages, with many representing big-budget productions that showcased his commitment to quality filmmaking. In 2021, the group significantly deepened its cinematic presence by co-producing the historical epic 'Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham.' Featuring an ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Keerthy Suresh, Arjun Sarja, and Suniel Shetty, the film released in multiple South Indian languages and emerged as a landmark project that firmly linked Confident Group with prestigious cinematic ventures.
Roy was also involved as a production partner for the upcoming film 'Anomie' starring Bhavana, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to supporting diverse cinematic projects.
Philanthropy and Public Persona
Beyond his commercial ventures in films and awards, Roy maintained an active involvement in charitable initiatives and cultural events throughout Kerala. He played a significant role in rebuilding houses following the devastating 2018 floods that affected the state, contributing both resources and organizational support to recovery efforts.
Roy maintained an active social media presence where he occasionally showcased aspects of his lifestyle, including his collection of high-end luxury cars and helicopter rides, presenting a multifaceted public persona that blended business acumen with personal interests.
Industry Reactions to His Passing
The film fraternity expressed profound shock and sadness following news of Roy's demise. Producer G Suresh Kumar reflected, "His death is truly unfortunate. From my observations, he was a straightforward and brilliant businessman who transformed the 'Confident' brand into a major industry player. His genuine love for art naturally led him to venture into movie production."
Producer Antony Perumbavoor, who maintained a long-standing relationship with Roy, noted that the businessman had collaborated with his production house, Ashirvad Cinemas. "He remained one of our close friends, and we knew his family well. He consistently brought happiness to those around him. His passing through suicide is profoundly shocking and difficult to process," Perumbavoor expressed.
The Fefka Directors' Union publicly expressed condolences on social media platforms, acknowledging Roy's significant contributions to Kerala's entertainment industry and the void created by his absence.
