From Boardrooms to Bollywood: How Narayana Murthy’s “70-Hour Work Week” Sparked a Long-Standing Debate on Work-Life Balance

• Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s 2023 call for young Indians to work 70 hours a week ignited ongoing discussions across corporate India, startups, entertainment, and public opinion.
• Business icons, startup founders, and Bollywood figures weighed in, with some backing the idea for economic growth and others warning against burnout, advocating for productivity through focus
• The controversy reflects global debates between economic competitiveness and employee well-being.
• Most Indian employees prefer 40–50-hour workweeks, reject long commutes and 12-hour days, and favor output-based evaluations.
• HR experts recommend flexible schedules and better infrastructure over rigid hour mandates to boost productivity without burnout.

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In October 2023, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy made a suggestion that would stir conversation far beyond India’s corporate boardrooms: he called for young Indians to work 70 hours a week to boost the nation’s productivity. Nearly two years later, the remark is still echoing — not just in offices, but in start-up circles, television debates, and even Bollywood studios.

Murthy’s statement struck a nerve because it touched on one of the most polarising workplace topics — how much time is “enough” to dedicate to one’s career. For some, it was a rallying cry for hard work and national growth. For others, it was an outdated idea ignoring the importance of work-life balance, mental health, and fair pay.

The Origin of the 70-Hour Week Debate

Murthy made the remark on the debut episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast The Record, in conversation with former Infosys CEO T.V. Mohandas Pai.

“Our youth must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week.'” said Murthy

He argued that post-independence generations had not matched the work ethic of nations like Japan and Germany, and that increased dedication was vital for India to become a developed economy.

The comment gained international attention — British media, for example, noted that Murthy is the father-in-law of then–UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. While Sunak made no comment, the family connection added a layer of curiosity in overseas coverage.

Corporate Leaders Weigh In

Murthy’s call was not entirely without precedent. Around the same time, several global and Indian business leaders expressed similar views on extended work hours:

• SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), advocated for working 90 hours per week, working on Saturdays — and in some cases, even Sundays — to match the productivity of global peers.
• Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has gone even further, claiming in early 2025 that he and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were working 120 hours per week. Musk, who has often described himself as a workaholic, previously lived in Tesla’s factories during production crises.

However, the numbers behind Musk’s claim raised eyebrows. Out of 168 hours in a week, working 120 hours leaves only 48 hours for everything else — sleeping, eating, commuting, and personal life. Health experts warn that such schedules, if sustained, can harm both mental and physical well-being.

Mixed Reactions from the Startup Fraternity

Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week comment split India’s startup community right down the middle. While some founders echoed his sentiment, seeing it as a necessary push for a developing nation, others dismissed it as unrealistic in the modern work culture.

Among the strongest critics was Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and a Shark Tank India judge. Mittal dismissed the obsession with long hours as “a big lie being told to this generation.” Reflecting on his early days working 16-hour shifts in the US, he argued that success is not a mere function of clocked time, but a blend of effort, smart strategy, and learning agility. For him, young professionals should indeed push themselves early in their careers — but not at the cost of their health, creativity, or work-life balance.

Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and fellow Shark Tank judge, shared a similarly sceptical stance. Without naming Murthy directly, she remarked on LinkedIn that true productivity stems from “energy, focus, and passion” rather than simply stretching work hours. She stressed that burnout culture does not drive innovation — it often kills it. She also offered a personal-life perspective, suggesting in a podcast that those committing to 70-hour weeks should think carefully before marrying or having children.

Viraj Bahl, founder of Veeba Foods, also a Shark Tank India judge, took a more balanced approach. In an interview, he noted that while hard work is a given for any founder, the focus should be on “high-quality work hours” rather than an arbitrary number. For Bahl, obsessing over 70-hour targets distracts from the real question: Are you making those hours count?

Sahil Barua, co-founder of logistics unicorn Delhivery, offered a more measured take. He acknowledged that extra effort is often needed in the startup phase but stressed that it should be “self-driven rather than imposed.” In his view, passion for solving problems drives productivity far more effectively than rigid schedules.

Yet, Murthy found high-profile defenders, most notable out of them was, Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder of Ola, came out in support of Murthy. Aggarwal noted that India, as a young and growing economy, cannot afford complacency. He said the country’s ambitious entrepreneurs and workforce must be ready to put in the extra hours needed to compete on a global stage.

Shark Tank India Takes a Jibe

By mid-2025, the debate had become so entrenched in public culture that it even appeared in pop entertainment. Shark Tank India Season 5 teaser, released in June 2025, contained a playful dig at Narayana Murthy’s statement. In the short promo, one of the “Sharks” quips about whether an entrepreneur pitching their idea would be willing to put in “70 hours a week” to make it successful — a line delivered with exaggerated seriousness before everyone on set bursts into laughter. The clip quickly went viral on social media, amassing millions of views in just a few days.

Interestingly, the segment also sparked a mini-debate in the comments section of the promo itself. Some viewers defended the idea, saying that successful start-ups inevitably demand “all in” commitment, especially in their early years. Others argued that such jokes normalise unhealthy work expectations in a country where burnout and job-related stress are already rising.

Bollywood Joins the Conversation

In June 2025, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone reportedly requested an eight-hour workday while negotiating her role in the movie Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The request, according to industry insiders, was linked to her recent motherhood and the demanding nature of film shoots.

While some industry veterans supported her — including actors Kajol, Ajay Devgn, and filmmaker Mani Ratnam — others argued that such strict time limits could disrupt production schedules, especially for big-budget films.

The parallel with Murthy’s 70-hour proposal was not lost on the public: both discussions boiled down to the same question — what’s the right balance between professional ambition and personal well-being?

Global Context: Work Culture Around the World

Murthy’s “70-hour” call isn’t an isolated idea. Around the world, the conversation on work hours is constantly shifting.

• In the UK, trade unions have been pushing for shorter work weeks, with some companies experimenting with four-day schedules. The average full-time work week is 36.4 hours (ONS data). Trials of a 4-day work week in the UK and Iceland have shown positive results for productivity and well-being.
• In Japan, known for its notorious culture of karōshi — or death by overwork — the government has introduced policies encouraging employees to take more paid leave.
• France famously introduced a 35-hour legal work week in 2000, although many employees work overtime.
• Meanwhile, countries like Sweden have tested six-hour workdays, citing increased productivity and happiness.

Supporters of Murthy’s idea point out that India is still a developing nation and cannot afford to adopt relaxed schedules too soon, especially if it wants to compete with high-growth economies. Critics counter that overwork leads to burnout and reduces efficiency in the long term, pointing to studies from the World Health Organization linking extended work hours to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Silicon Valley Comparisons

Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week remark finds echoes in Silicon Valley, where some of the world’s most high-profile entrepreneurs have openly embraced extreme working hours.

In early 2025, Elon Musk revealed that his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency team was clocking 120-hour work weeks. That leaves just 48 hours in a week for sleep, commuting, meals, and personal time — highlighting how work can dominate life at this pace.

Health professionals caution that such schedules can cause long-term harm. Research from the Mayo Clinic and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep a night raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and impaired cognitive function. Experts argue that pushing beyond sustainable limits erodes performance over time, rather than improving it.

Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer once shared that during her tenure at Google, she worked 130-hour weeks, often sleeping in the office to meet deadlines. While her story is still cited as proof that long hours can fuel career breakthroughs, medical studies continue to show the physical and mental costs of such extreme routines.

These examples reveal a global debate similar to the one Murthy sparked in India: does relentless dedication guarantee success, or does it come at too steep a price? The tension between ambition and well-being remains unresolved — and highly relevant in today’s competitive business culture.

Why the Debate Persists

The 70-hour work week idea has endured because it touches on deeper societal issues:

• Generational shifts: Older leaders often credit their success to relentless work, while younger professionals value flexibility and mental health.
• Economic pressures: In fast-growing economies like India, there’s tension between scaling up quickly and maintaining sustainable work practices.
• Cultural values: Ideas about discipline, sacrifice, and ambition differ widely between industries and regions.

What the Data Says: Employee Preferences in India

Beyond opinions from notable figures, surveys paint a clear picture of what most Indian employees want.

A survey by Venator Search Partners found:

• 68% believe long hours are demotivating and contribute to high attrition.
• 84% prefer a 40–50 hour work week; only 2% supported working more than 50 hours.
• 62% said unreasonable expectations were their main source of workplace stress.

In big cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, 90% rejected the idea of 12-hour days, citing long commutes.

The survey also revealed a widespread dislike for measuring performance purely by hours worked, with 80% preferring output-based evaluation.

What HR Experts say?

Many HR experts argue for a more nuanced approach — encouraging commitment and resilience without rigidly prescribing hours. Flexible schedules, outcome-based assessments, and better infrastructure (like reduced commute times) are seen as ways to boost productivity without exhausting employees.

As Deepraditya Datta, founder of Venator Search Partners, put it:

“While the ideal solution remains elusive, companies should strive to adapt to the evolving demands of the modern workforce.”

Conclusion

From Murthy’s podcast remark in 2023 to Shark Tank India Season 5 Teaser and then Deepika Padukone’s eight-hour request in 2025, the conversation about work hours has traversed boardrooms, startup hubs, reality TV sets, and film studios. The fact that it remains so hotly debated shows how personal — and political — the issue is.

Whether the future belongs to 70-hour weeks or shorter, more flexible schedules, one thing is certain: the conversation about how much we work, and why, is here to stay.

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