Mumbai:
She's seen as the driving force behind one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Nita Ambani says the players on her Mumbai Indian have different names for her - some call her 'Bhabhi', others call her "Mrs Boss."
In an exclusive interview to Shekhar Gupta, NDTV's Walk the Talk and Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Express, Ambani explains what it's like to overshadow her husband, billionaire Mukesh Ambani, as the boss of a winning enterprise. Ambani also says that the IPL will survive the unpleasant exit of suspended Chairman Lalit Modi, a man whose energy, she says, never failed to surprise her.
Here is an excerpt from the interview.
Nita Ambani: I used to wonder if I have to go from Bombay to Mohali, then to Chennai..which side of the bed should I get out from? Lalit would be moving everywhere, up and down all the time. I used to wonder how on earth is he doing this? Constantly being on the move, constantly wanting to get things done.
NDTV: Does this invite too much attention?
Nita Ambani: Well, all cricket invites attention.
NDTV: Could he have handled it differently?
Nita Ambani: Everybody has their own personality, and in retrospect, people may say this or that. So who am I to enforce a personality on anyone? I must say that I have enjoyed thoroughly these two years in IPL.
NDTV: You didn't have any bad experiences?
Nita Ambani: Not at all.
NDTV: He didn't try to interfere?
Nita Ambani: No I don't think so. I told him at the time of the IPL 2 auction that I am a learner.
NDTV: Did you have an argument with him?
Nita Ambani: No. Except that I was upset when I wasn't allowed to sit in the dug-out with my team. I am too much of a team member to be separated from my team.
NDTV: What did he say?
Nita Ambani: Well, he said that it was the...rules.
NDTV: Tell me, can IPL survive his departure?
Nita Ambani: You know what I tell my school - that the school is beyond me, it is a timeless institution.
NDTV: Has IPL become that?
Nita Ambani: Time will tell, but I think Lalit did tremendously for the IPL.
NDTV: Do you feel sorry for him?
Nita Ambani: Yes. I do.
In an exclusive interview to Shekhar Gupta, NDTV's Walk the Talk and Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Express, Ambani explains what it's like to overshadow her husband, billionaire Mukesh Ambani, as the boss of a winning enterprise. Ambani also says that the IPL will survive the unpleasant exit of suspended Chairman Lalit Modi, a man whose energy, she says, never failed to surprise her.
Here is an excerpt from the interview.
Nita Ambani: I used to wonder if I have to go from Bombay to Mohali, then to Chennai..which side of the bed should I get out from? Lalit would be moving everywhere, up and down all the time. I used to wonder how on earth is he doing this? Constantly being on the move, constantly wanting to get things done.
NDTV: Does this invite too much attention?
Nita Ambani: Well, all cricket invites attention.
NDTV: Could he have handled it differently?
Nita Ambani: Everybody has their own personality, and in retrospect, people may say this or that. So who am I to enforce a personality on anyone? I must say that I have enjoyed thoroughly these two years in IPL.
NDTV: You didn't have any bad experiences?
Nita Ambani: Not at all.
NDTV: He didn't try to interfere?
Nita Ambani: No I don't think so. I told him at the time of the IPL 2 auction that I am a learner.
NDTV: Did you have an argument with him?
Nita Ambani: No. Except that I was upset when I wasn't allowed to sit in the dug-out with my team. I am too much of a team member to be separated from my team.
NDTV: What did he say?
Nita Ambani: Well, he said that it was the...rules.
NDTV: Tell me, can IPL survive his departure?
Nita Ambani: You know what I tell my school - that the school is beyond me, it is a timeless institution.
NDTV: Has IPL become that?
Nita Ambani: Time will tell, but I think Lalit did tremendously for the IPL.
NDTV: Do you feel sorry for him?
Nita Ambani: Yes. I do.
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