Suniel Shetty supports Narayana Murthy's 70-hour work week tip: Go beyond comfort zone

'When a man, the size of Mr Narayana Murthy, says something, you listen carefully, analyse for yourself and take the best out of it,' Suneil Shetty said.

Actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty has spoken out in favour of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy after he advised youngsters to work for 70 hours a week to increase India's overall productivity.

"When a man, the size of Mr Narayana Murthy, says something, you listen carefully, analyse for yourself, and take the best out of it," Shetty wrote on LinkedIn. "Even though this is a contentious issue, it’s important to stop and think about what he really meant. For me, it really isn’t about the number of hours. It isn’t about 70 or 100-hour weeks. The way I read his thoughts is simple -- It’s about going beyond your comfort zone."

He then went on to give examples of Ratan Tata, APJ Abdul Kalam, Amitabh Bachchan, and Virat Kohli, asserting that all of them excelled in their fields by putting in extra hours.

"Do we really think any of these individuals got to where they did in life, by playing within their comfort zones? Do we really think any of these individuals spent the early years of their careers worrying about whether they were striking the right balance between work and life? I’m sure they didn't," Suniel Shetty wrote.

He further clarified that perhaps what Narayana Murthy meant was for young adults to spend their early years pushing their boundaries, honing skills, acquiring new ones, and making the best of the opportunities that come their way.

"The reason it’s easier to accelerate your learning curve in the early stages of your career is because in most cases one needn't worry about marriage, kids, home loans, or a 100 other things that life will throw your way as you grow older," the actor said, adding that if there is one thing that he could change about his youth, he would put in more hours at work.

But, Suniel Shetty also had a word to add on work-life balance. "It is important to have time for your family, your health, nurturing a hobby, your friends, and other things that bring us joy and make life richer. But it’s also true that the world is evolving rapidly. Technology and AI are reshaping the world more than we can imagine. And we need to keep getting better."

He concluded his note with a final piece of advice for youngsters: "Thrive for excellence, put in the hard work, and cultivate your skills. Find mentors, build networks, and invest in soft skills. The rest will fall into place."

Read more: Suniel Shetty reveals his favourite cricketer who is a 'master of chasing'