Davos:

Amid the nationwide debate on work-life balance after problematic remarks by some industry leaders, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute, has said it is not humanly possible to be productive beyond a certain number of hours and that people need to unwind and refresh.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV on the sidelines of Davos 2025, Mr Poonawalla was asked how many hours he puts in daily. He replied that he was working almost round the clock during Covid. “But, you know, it’s all about your entrepreneurial journey. You have to work hard to build what you want to build and what you want to be. But that’s not for everyone. And you can’t do that continuously. You have to have time to unwind, refresh, re-look at things,” he said.

Mr Poonawalla said that a company’s leader also needs to network with people for a variety of reasons, including raising funds. “You can’t do that if you’re just…”

Asked about the work hours for employees of Serum Institute, he replied, “We have eight-hour shifts. We have two-three shifts and the standard. So, you know, if you want to operate a company, let’s say, from a CEO’s point of view, you have different shifts. You employ more people. So, we start at 7.30 in the morning… And then at 4 o’clock, that shift ends and the next one takes over.”

Stressing that it is “not humanly possible” for people to be productive beyond a certain number of hours, the Serum Institute CEO said crisis situations were different. “In a crisis or in an opportunity, your adrenaline is pumping. During Covid, there were nights where I hardly got three or four hours of sleep because you were talking to so many people. But that’s not something that is sustainable.” 

Work life balance has been a key talking point over the past few weeks after Larsen and Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan spoke about a 90-hour workweek. During an internal interaction, Mr Subrahmanyan was asked why L&T required its employees to work on Saturdays. He replied, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also.”

“What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working,” he added.

The remarks sparked a row as a section of social media users said such a remark from an industry leader will lead to exploitation of employees. Many pointed out that expecting such work output from entry level employees with low wages was unfair, while others said the focus should be on quality, and not quantity, of work.

In fact, Mr Poonawalla had then said his wife loves staring at him on Sundays and added, “Quality of work over quantity always.”

Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025

Earlier, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had advocated a 70-hour workweek and India’s young workforce has to embrace hard work if they want the country to realise its full potential on the global stage. He has recently said this was a matter to introspect and that no one should impose such hours on another individual.

During his chat with NDTV, Mr Poonawalla said the industry leaders’ remarks on work hours were made in a lighter vein. “All they meant was there’s no substitute for hard work. And that is the right message,” he said, adding that there is a need to strike a balance in all aspects of life.

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has weighed in on the ongoing debate about work-life balance, advocating for the importance of quality over the quantity of work hours. Mr Poonawalla, in a social media post, echoed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s sentiment, saying, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. Work life balance.”

Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025

His comment, made on X, followed Mr Mahindra’s recent remarks saying that it’s not about working 48, 70, or 90 hours a week, but rather the output produced. “My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her,” Mr Mahindra had said, taking a dig at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s latest comments.

Mr Subrahmanyan recently sparked backlash with his suggestion that employees should work 90-hour weeks, even on Sundays, to remain competitive. He said that he regretted that L&T employees weren’t working on Sundays, saying, “If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also.”

He further questioned, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments also drew criticism from other quarters, including RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, who mocked the suggestion of a 90-hour workweek, calling it a “recipe for burnout, not success.” Mr Goenka said, “Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” He added that work-life balance isn’t optional and urged people to “work smart, not slave.”

Former Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta also strongly criticised Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments, labelling them “misogynistic.” On social media, Ms Gutta questioned why spending time with one’s spouse should be seen as a problem, asking, “Why shouldn’t he stare at his wife… and why only on a Sunday?”

The debate has even drawn attention from actor and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone, who called the remarks “shocking” coming from someone in a senior position.

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has also previously argued in favour of long workweeks, suggesting that employees should be prepared for up to 70-hour workweeks.

Adar Poonawalla and Karan Johar
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Adar Poonawalla-led Serene Productions has announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to invest ₹1,000 crore into Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment. Through this investment, Serene Productions will hold a 50% stake in Dharma, with Karan Johar retaining the remaining 50% ownership.

According to a statement, Karan Johar as the executive chairman will spearhead the company’s creative vision. As the chief executive officer, Apoorva Mehta will work with Karan Johar in steering the strategic direction and overseeing the organisation’s operational excellence.

The statement read, “India’s entertainment industry has experienced significant expansion, driven by surging digital penetration and a diverse audience seeking high-quality content across multiple platforms, with growing global relevance. This strategic partnership between Serene Productions and Dharma is designed to capitalize on these opportunities by combining Dharma’s rich legacy in storytelling with Adar Poonawalla’s strategic acumen and resources. The collaboration aims to further transform content creation, distribution, and audience engagement by integrating advanced technologies and pioneering production methods.”

READ MORE: Karan Johar says film with “south superstar, massively loved actress, legacy debut actor” is ready

“By leveraging this synergy, Serene Productions and Dharma seek to meet the evolving demands of today’s digitally savvy consumers while pushing the boundaries of creative storytelling. Together, they aspire to shape the future of entertainment for digital-first generations, embracing new platforms and formats to deliver compelling narratives that entertain, inspire, and engage audiences worldwide. This alliance signifies a transformative step toward elevating the Indian entertainment industry on the global stage, in an era where the relationship between audiences and entertainment platforms is more dynamic and interactive than ever before.”

Talking about the partnership, Adar Poonawalla, said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come.”

Karan Johar stated, “From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I’ve dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we’re poised to elevate Dharma’s legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies. It’s about honouring our roots while embracing the future of global entertainment. Dharma’s journey has been remarkable, and this collaboration opens up a world of possibilities for creating content that will resonate across borders and generations.”

The news of this collaboration comes fresh on the heels of Karan Johar looking to sell a majority stake in his company. Interestingly, there were speculations back in 2019 that Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, was in talks to acquire a stake in Dharma Productions which was later refuted by the company.