CEO of Serum Institute of India, “Adar Poonawalla” Shares That His Wife “Natasha” enjoys gazing at him on “Sundays”

Adar Poonawalla, Serum Institute of India CEO, recently cracked a joke, saying that his wife Natasha loves gazing at him on Sundays. He said this in reply to a shocking statement by SN Subrahmanyan, Larsen & Toubro Chairman, who recently suggested that workers should put in 90 hours of work every week, including Sundays. Subrahmanyan’s statement led to much debate on work-life balance as most industry leaders and public figures condemned the concept of overworking.

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

Adar Poonawalla statement aligns with the recent statement by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, who underlined that more personal time with quality work output is preferred to quantity. Debates over the work-life balance have picked pace, and leaders like RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka and former badminton player Jwala Gutta voiced their opinions about the matter.

Subrahmanyan’s proposal of 90 hours per week has made many professionals, as well as the general public, raise red flags. Extreme work schedules might lead to major burnout, and productivity will reduce overall. Instead, proponents argue that employees tend to perform better when they get enough time to rest and recharge.

The emphasis on personal time, as cited by Poonawalla and Mahindra, reflects the growing trend among business leaders who advocate for the well-being of employees. It is more relevant in the post-pandemic world where remote work and flexible schedules are more widespread. Companies realize that a happy and healthy workforce is essential for long-term success.

More fundamentally, debates over the changing nature of work have been tied to broader, social issues. Some believe that the traditional concept of work is going with the ways times are changing and that there is a need to rethink how one can balance professional and personal life. The shift towards a more holistic approach seen as good and encouraging a culture where employees actually feel valued and supported.

The debate over work-life balance started with Subrahmanyan’s statements and continued further when Adar Poonawalla, by a lighthearted comment, reiterated that finding sustainability in a human approach to work is essential. When more and more leaders contribute to the discussion, it would be clear that well-being, flexibility, and healthy professional-to-personal-life balance would shape the future of work.