Aditya Puri talks about his next interest, reveals why he accepted a pay cut to join HDFC Bank

Former HDFC Bank boss Aditya Puri spoke on a range of topics including learnings as a banker, lessons in leadership, life beyond banking, and how wants to move into the next phase of his life.

Anita "Smiley" Puri's book, "Adityanama" - The Man Behind the Banker Unveiled, was published in February and provides a unique insight into the life of her husband, former HDFC Bank MD & CEO Aditya Puri.

In an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18, Anita Puri talked about lesser-known details and Aditya Puri, the family man. And, former HDFC Bank boss Aditya Puri spoke on a range of topics including learnings as a banker, lessons in leadership, life beyond banking, and how he wants to move into the next phase.

Aditya Puri does not want to write his own book, but he may associate himself with a company interested in finance or pharmaceuticals.

The veteran banker stated that his goal is to make a difference in people's lives, particularly those in rural India. He also stated he is keen to work on a project and eliminate the necessity for moneylenders.

"If there was something where I could eliminate the moneylender I would do that," the veteran banker said.

If we could see him diving a company in an active role, he said, "If I find something like PharmEasy there, I am actively involved. So just like banking needed to go into the interior. We need to get quality healthcare and medicines to the interior you drive wherever you go to your own village."

He continued, "I do want to bring quality healthcare to all of India at a cheaper price delivered to the doorstep. That includes medicines, orthopedics, doctor on call! And I'm very passionate about that. I want to. And we are working, a couple of us are working together - the Mahindras, us, Bombay Port Trust, the government, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank to make your life more liveable. I think we will be able to come out with something soon."

He stated that he would like to actively enter some company when the time comes. "If there was something where I could eliminate the moneylender I would do that." He added, "we have the opportunity to be able to take finance and thereby take them out of the money lending business. I think that that is something that must be done. And if you give them finance, I think it will create another India," he said.

Anita Puri recalled the difficult days when Aditya Puri switched from Citi Bank in Kuala Lumpur to HDFC Bank in Mumbai, stating that they had to make significant lifestyle changes because Citi Bank was already established while HDFC Bank was a newborn.

On the big career move from Citi to HDFC Bank, Aditya Puri said it was a difficult decision and recalled what he told Anita, "One day, I'll set up a bank in India that India will be proud of."

Revealing why he decided to accept a pay cut to join HDFC Bank and the conversation he had with Chairman Deepak Parekh, he said, "And the salary offered me, I was almost going to fall off the chair. I said, “Deepak are you bloody joking? What are we going to do?” Then I also said, “Look, if I come back, it will be to solve a passion. So whose bank will it be? How much will you run it?” And he said, “Look, you come back and you run it.”

"And I have to say, he never deviated from that. If I needed to do something, or if I needed his help, I went to him. But he never once said you do this or you do that. You have to give that credit to him. He said 'Look, come back to the country and do something',” Aditya Puri added.

Speaking on the most challenging moment for him when he was managing the HDFC Bank, he said, there were a lot of challenges, explained that they had to first set it up, and then had to see if we needed to expand and become large, how he needed to change the business due to ongoing technological advancements, geographical aspects, etc, and added: "we wanted to be ahead of the curve. So being the first also entails risks".

On the world's banking problems and whether India is doing things correctly, he remarked, "If you see these collapses, and if you see also what the banking systems overseas look like, we look like a Garden of Eden."

Reacting to Silicon Valley Bank and other bank collapses in the US, he gave full credit to the RBI and highlighted our asset liability management rules, portfolio management rules, and deposit regulations, among others. He opined, "I think we do a damn good job, and the rest need to learn from us rather than lecture us. And I also believe that the “sone ki chidiya” is coming back."