Bengaluru, Nov. 3 -- Ratan Tata, the iconic chairman of India's largest conglomerate who passed away last year, was supportive of his family, but his personal relationships never influenced his decisions, according to his half-sisters.

"We were very close," his half-sister Shireen Jejeebhoy told Mint. "He (Ratan Tata) was always supportive, played jokes on us, and at times looked to us for support. We had a deep love and respect for each other. Ratan has given us a lot of love and support. He was my mother's favourite-hands down."

Shireen and Tata's other half-sister Deanna have expressed distress about the split among trustees of Tata Trusts, leading to the removal of Mehli Mistry.

Ratan Tata, 86, who died on 9 October last year, did ...