Amid a national conversation about the 90-hour work week, an old comment by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has resurfaced on social media, adding fuel to the discussion. In a 2022 interview with Aaj Tak, Khan advised that one must be “restless” to achieve success.
He suggested that leisure is only useful for those who do not expect to succeed. “If you want to succeed, don't eat, don't sleep, don't rest, don't rest!”
He further explained that success requires sacrifice and being at peace is not conducive to achieving one's goals. Khan shared a personal example, citing his own limited sleep and rigorous work routine to maintain his fitness.
The debate intensified when Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan advocated a 90-hour work week. He questioned the need for holidays and expressed a desire for employees to work on weekends.
Subrahmanyan's comments echo recent comments by Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy, who has supported increasing working hours and advocated a 70-hour work week.
The big workweek debate continues, with industry leaders divided over the merits of long work hours and a balanced approach to success.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra emphasized that the focus should be on output rather than hours, saying that significant gains can be made even within a limited time frame.
He also said that perfect lifestyle helps in making right business decisions. A holistic life, according to Mahindra, includes spending time at home, spending time with friends, reading and self-reflection.
RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka slammed Subramanian's proposal, calling it a “recipe for implosion” and not success. Goenka said work-life balance is essential, not optional.
Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto argued that quality of work is more important than the number of hours worked. Radhika Gupta, CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund emphasized that hard work and ambition are personal choices and not everyone aspires to top executive roles.