‘Never a better time to be Indian’: Kumar Mangalam Birla shares lessons on KBC with Amitabh Bachchan

A rare television moment brought together board wisdom and deeply personal reflection as Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati to play for Jaipur Foot. In conversation with megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Birla reflected on leadership, legacy and values, offering a set of lessons shaped as much by family history as professional experience.

The episode opened a window into the principles that guided Birla’s journey, starting with education and discipline. He remembers wanting to pursue an MBA after graduation, but said his father, Aditya Birla, insisted that he qualify as a chartered accountant first. The message was non-negotiable: without becoming a CA, there would be no place for him in the office. Even a call to his grandfather, BK Birla, did not change this stance, emphasizing, as Birla pointed out, that professional credibility has no shortcuts.

The discussion then moved to memory and meaning beyond financial statements. Bachchan shared a personal memory of his visit to the Birla residence in Kolkata, where BK Birla showed him a guestbook containing the signature of Bachchan’s father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, dating back to the 1950s. In a gesture rooted in respect for history, BK Birla asked Amitabh Bachchan to sign next to his father’s name, an exchange that underlined how the family values relationships and legacy over material display.

Birla also spoke candidly about his rise to leadership at age 28, following the untimely death of his father. He admitted the fear and pressure that came with the responsibility and said he relied on his upbringing, family values ​​and faith to get through the transition.

Quoting a Sanskrit shloka, “shanaiah pantha shanaiah kantha,” he emphasized the belief that meaningful achievement takes time and consistent effort, a principle that he said has shaped his approach to building sustainable institutions.

Simplicity emerged as another defining theme. Birla said he opened his grandfather’s closet after BK Birla’s death and found only 23 kurtas, two ties, three suits and a single watch. Although he ran extensive textile interests, the family patriarch lived with minimal personal possessions, often resisting further purchases for himself. This restraint, Birla said, remains a guide for the family.

The episode also offered rare glimpses into the private world of the Birlas. Birla’s youngest daughter Advaitesha said that while she was studying abroad, her father called her five times a day despite his busy schedule. The family spoke of connections through painting and music, and his wife Neerja jokingly mentioned his habit of not listening the first time, sparking laughter in the studio. At her daughter’s request, Birla even sang a few lines from a classic song, revealing a side rarely seen in public.

Beyond personal stories, the conversation broadened to India’s place in the world. Birla told Bachchan that the country is living in the “Age of India” (Bharat ka yug), reflecting on the fact that at the start of his career, he would not have imagined that India would become a bigger economy than Japan. He highlighted India’s status as the fastest growing major economy and described its demographic dividend as an “asset”, noting that within five years the country will have a working population of one billion people.

Birla framed this momentum as part of the “Indian growth model,” in which rapid economic expansion coexists with the preservation of culture and values, a view that the Birla family itself exemplifies, according to Bachchan. Birla summed up the moment with a clear message to the audience: “There has never been a better time to be young, to be Indian and to be in India.”