Aditya Kothadiya’s Blog

• Tweet
• Buffer

• Tweet
• Buffer

Guru, the latest Bollywood movie from director Mani Ratnam, begins with the usual disclaimer that this story does not resemble any real life individual character and any similarities found are purely coincidental. But I believe almost everyone in the theatre already knew or atleast at the end of the movie could relate this story to an Indian business tycoon and founder of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Dhirubhai Ambani.

RIL is the India’s largest private sector company with a turnover of US $19.976 billion and profit of US $2.033 billion for the fiscal year ending in March 2006. It has a wide range of products from petrochemicals (its major product), to garments (under the brand name of Vimal). Additionally, the company held interests in textile manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services. [Source - Wikipedia]

Mani Ratnam fictionalized this story of Dhirubhai Ambani in Guru, which profiles a man driven by a dream to succeed. The main character, Gurukant Desai, brilliantly portrayed by Abhishek Bachchan, known as Gurubhai, tells that, his father always told him not to dream, as dreams never come true. But he dared to dream and he succeeded in making it a reality. He grew up in rural upbringing as the son of the local headmaster to the business tycoon of India.

Dhirubhai was a famous figure in Indian business history and was acknowledged as ‘Man of 20th Century’, ‘Greatest Creator of Wealth In The Century’, and ‘Power 50 – the most powerful people in Asia’, and many more. But he was never appreciated as a value based or ethical businessman.

When he was 16 years old, he moved to Aden, Yemen. Initially he worked as a despatch clerk with A. Besse & Co., which was a distributor for Shell products. In the 1950s the Yemini administration realized that their main unit of currency Rial were disappearing fast. Upon investigating it was realized that all Rials were being routed to the Port City of Aden. There a young man in his twenties was placing unlimited buy orders of Yemini Rials.

During those days the Yemini Rial was a pure silver coin and was in much demand at the London Bullion Exchange. Young Dhirubhai would buy the Rials, melt them in pure silver and sell it to the bullion traders in London. In the later part of his life while talking to reporters it is believed that he said,

“The margins were small but it was money for jam. After three months, it was stopped. But I made a few lakh of rupees. In short I was a manipulator. A very good manipulator. But I don’t believe in not taking opportunities.” [Source - Wikipedia]

Well, I am not going to review the movie in detail, but definitely it’s a must watch movie if you live an entrepreneurial passion. In all, it was a good movie, and here are my learning out of that movie from an entrepreneur’s point of view:

1. Dream big. Literally BIG. But act small and steadily.
2. Think big, think fast, and think ahead of time.
3. Take risks to be creative, different, and innovative. It will pay off better than being bland and monotonous. In other words, safe is the new risk, and risk is the new certain.
4. Believe in your idea, and do not bother about ‘NO’ from bozos.
5. There is no alternative for hardwork. With bigger dreams, higher ambitions, have deeper commitment and greater efforts. With determination and perfection, success will follow.
6. Don’t give up. Believe in changing the system if it is not working for you.
7. Get a good mentor, to get guidance not only on knowing how to grow the business, but also on how to grow as a person.
8. People is the key. Let it be your loyal employees, or sharelolders or customers. Think people, always.
9. Theory knowledge can be useful, but real life experience is the best teacher. Education is never a requirement to make profits. It is the power of observation and foresight thinking, which helps to grow the business.
10. Family, and close relationships are always rated at the top in the war of business. Do not let your business decision spoil your relation.
11. Take time for your family, for your beloved ones, and care for them.

Once again, it is a must watch movie for entrepreneurs. Its truly an inspiring real story.