I would be fooling myself if I thought I would succeed as an entrepreneur. Maybe my base as a theatre artiste gave me the confidence as that's when you start feeling you can do something on your own.
Multiplexes need to be partners in increasing footfalls, but they have been too focused - maybe rightly so - in expanding their footprint of screens, because we are such an under-screened country.
Parsee culture is definitely one of strong business acumen, high ethics, and an element of philanthropy.
The interesting part for India is really that it's an emerging market, and therefore the opportunities are very unique. I guess the challenge that comes with that - it's always a path less trodden.
The next level of mass consumption - and India is known for its consumption story - is really going to come from consumption in the rural areas. So that's going to throw up a lot of unique opportunities.
India is not going to come up with the best and most modern car, but if you want the most economic car in the world, we're pioneering that with the Nano, which the Tata Group did in India, for example. And I would call that innovation of the highest degree.
If you're looking at a country like India, the basic subsistence in itself creates its own challenges. So I think that lends to a different level of innovation and a different level of entrepreneurship.
After college I'd take up a job and I'd experience what it is to take up a job, rather than starting out on my own. I said let me just work for six months so that I know myself a little better.
I would say that in the 1990s, I don't think the environment was enough to make anyone ambitious and aspirational. It was a downer, I would think.
Disney is looking at growing in emerging markets - and for them India is an important market. They also recognize how important it is to partner with a local Indian company.
The global e-learning online market is on fire. Organizations which feel left out of this non-linear world of opportunities are seeing the need to adopt this new way of lifelong learning.
India's ambitions as a country and, in turn, the ambitions of our youth and working professionals are soaring. A new wave of learning is upon us.
In the digital era, everyone is a student. Degrees given by formal education are not a value currency anymore. Technical skills and an individual's ability to apply the outcomes are important, irrespective of age.
I have never had a situation where an investee company would have a good value by having a banker. Investment bankers are there to please future clients. You are a temporary client; they are therefore not to get you the best valuation.
Somebody is coming to bring their global vision to India. If they are coming on their own, they shouldn't tie up. If they are coming because you know the ground level and there are international best practices to be shared, then it is the best way.
One becomes an entrepreneur to break the glass ceiling and that's when you grow the market. Of course, in that process you have to be prepared to get hurt. You will get hurt. But I'm a doer and I like taking risks.
I chose to invest everything in my own private companies.
I play chess with the computer when I feel dull in my mind and after two games - 'out or win', I feel sharp again.
I do believe that it's when you stop and give up that real failure takes place.
I am a firm believer of staying the course, you can never time success or being in the right place at the right time. But you can sure work on creating multiple opportunities for the same.
