'Only PM Modi works 100 hours a week': Narayana Murthy tells Tejasvi Surya

During a Mumbai‑to‑Bengaluru flight, Infosys co‑founder N.R. Narayana Murthy told BJP MP Tejasvi Surya that, in his view, “the only person I know who probably works 100 hours a week is Prime Minister Modi.”

Surya shared details of their two‑hour conversation in an X post late Monday, calling it a “masterclass” that ranged from AI and manufacturing to urban policy, youth upskilling, ethics and leadership.

When Surya jokingly pledged to meet Murthy’s well‑known 70‑hour work week target, the 77‑year‑old tech pioneer laughed and cited the prime minister’s reputed schedule.

Had an inspiring conversation with the legendary NRN today on the way back to Bengaluru from Mumbai.

NRN pioneered the Indian IT services sector, turning it into a global powerhouse. He created wealth for literally lakhs of middle class families through Infosys.

From AI to… pic.twitter.com/ZpcnRWmbQR

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 15, 2025

Murthy, who helped build India’s IT‑services industry into a global force, has long advocated intense work ethics to accelerate the country’s economic growth. But Murthy’s push for a 70‑hour work week has not gone down well with everyone.

Many people, including labour experts and doctors, said that asking people to work such long hours can harm their health and family life. They argue that it is easier for founders like Murthy, who own a company and control their time, but very hard for normal employees with fixed pay and long commutes.

A well‑known neurosurgeon explained in an interview that the brain does not know when to stop. If someone keeps working without enough rest, it builds up stress in the body. “An entrepreneur may enjoy the flow of work,” he said, “but an employee often ends up exhausted.”

Some people supported Murthy, saying he only wanted to inspire the youth to work harder and build a stronger nation. Murthy himself has said that in his early Infosys days, he worked 85–90 hours a week and even slept in storage rooms while building the company.