Hemant Jalan

The founder of Indigo Paints has overcome many setbacks by focusing on what is important

Hemant Jalan
info_icon

A movie that inspires you…
Anand starring Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, and Life is Beautiful starring Roberto Benigni are both stories about the triumph of human spirit when faced with adversity and despair.

...and a book?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It succinctly tells you that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and that, if you can imagine it, you are already there. 

When anxiety sets in?
Turn your mind to pleasant thoughts. Remember the happy moments from your life.

Lowest point in your life? How did you deal with it?
One was in 1996, when my business fell apart. I was financially decimated. The other was in 2017, when my daughter passed away from a sudden illness. Both were devastating in different ways. In both cases, I shut out all thoughts about the tragedy by focusing on my work. After two years, when I was better equipped to handle it, I let myself grieve.

Race For Rare Earths

30 June 2025

Get the latest issue of Outlook Business

amazon

An anecdote or lesson you’d like to share?
Focus on what you have control over. Also, joy or sorrow isn’t permanent. When things are very bad, sleep it off. Tomorrow will be better.

Any quote or saying that inspires you?
After flying an old aircraft solo from Karachi to Mumbai in 1982, JRD Tata said, "People should have a spirit of adventure in their lives.”

Tags