‘He struck me as humble…’: Sanjeev Bikhchandani recalls ‘unexpected’ meeting with L&T boss amid 90-hour workweek row

The debate on work-life balance returned after Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanian sparked controversy with his remarks in support of the 90-hour work week.

His comment, “how much can you look at your wife?” was widely criticized, prompting sharp reactions from corporate executives and the public.

Amid this storm, Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bichchandani shared a surprise and personal meeting with Subrahmanyan, shedding light on another side of the L&T Chairman.

“A few months ago, I received an unexpected letter. I had never met Mr. Subrahmanian, but it’s not every day that the chairman of a giant like L&T asks for a meeting. So I went,” Bichchandani wrote in X’s post.

Subrahmanyan discussed the issues of entrepreneurship, startups and digital transformation for an hour. “There was no agenda except that he wanted to learn,” Bichchandani said.

At the end of their meeting, Bichchandani asked Subrahmanian about L&T’s cash reserves, “He gave me a wild number, I think 50,000 crore. I advised him to invest some of it wisely in startups.” India needs domestic venture capital and a company with L&T’s balance sheet can lead the way.”

Bichchandani explained how investments in companies like Zomato and PolicyBazaar have yielded significant returns for Info Edge.“We agreed to meet again to discuss ideas. I left impressed. He even walked me to my car.”

While Bichchandani’s page portrays Subrahmanian as approachable and eager to learn, his workweek comments have sparked outrage. Industry leaders such as Harsh Goenka and Harsh Mariwala have criticized the idea, stressing the importance of quality work during the hours. it is essential,” said Goenka.

Billionaire Gautam Adani recently suggested a more balanced approach, suggesting that individuals prioritize their work lives. “If you and your family are happy, that’s what matters,” Adani said.