'My Wife Is Wonderful, I Love Staring At Her...' Anand Mahindra On Work-Life Balance, Business & His Social Media Posts

Anand Mahindra , Chairman of the Mahindra Group, while speaking weighed on the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025’ in New Delhi and advocated for a shift in focus from the quantity of time spent working to the quality of work produced. Mahindra’s remarks come amid growing discussions about the expectations of long work hours in the corporate world. Speaking at the event, Mahindra highlighted that real progress comes from productivity and effective time management rather than extended hours at the office.

Quality Over Quantity of Work
Responding to comments from industry leaders advocating for longer work hours, including a suggestion for 90-hour work weeks, Mahindra expressed his disagreement. “I have huge respect for Narayana Murthy and other corporate leaders, but my point is that we must focus on the quality of work, not on the quantity of work,” Mahindra stated. He emphasized that it’s not about working 70 or 90 hours but about producing high-quality outcomes in the time available.

Mahindra further reinforced his position by adding, “You can change the world in 10 hours,” stressing that true innovation and productivity are driven by the effective use of time, not the sheer number of hours worked. He also added, “My Wife Is Wonderful, I Love Staring At Her.”

Mahindra’s Work Philosophy: Focus on Impact

When asked about his work habits, Mahindra refused to quantify his hours. “I don’t want it to be about the time. I don’t want it to be about quantity. Ask me what’s the quality of my work. Don’t ask me how many hours I work,” he remarked. His response underscores his belief that the impact of work is far more important than its duration.

Backlash Over 90-Hour Workweek Comments

The conversation around work-life balance and long work hours gained momentum earlier this week after L&T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan suggested a 90-hour workweek, including Sundays, as a benchmark for extraordinary results. Subrahmanyan’s comments sparked a strong backlash, with figures like Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and RPG Group Chairperson Harsh Goenka publicly voicing their disapproval.
In response to the criticism, L&T clarified that Subrahmanyan’s comments were intended to inspire extraordinary efforts for nation-building, rather than to set a rigid standard for work hours.