'Don't need to hustle and work till 3 am': Swiggy CEO slams 'hustle culture'

Swiggy Food and Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor has publicly criticised the widespread 'hustle culture' in many industries. Speaking at Techsparks, an event in Bengaluru, Kapoor emphasised the importance of prioritising health and well-being over excessive working hours.

During his conversation with Shradha Sharma, Kapoor candidly addressed the pressure many professionals feel to work late into the night. "You don't need to hustle and work till 3 am," he remarked, targeting the unhealthy narrative that associates late-night work with dedication and success.

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Work-life balance over hustle

Hustle culture, which promotes relentless productivity and long hours, has often been endorsed by industry figures like Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who recently advocated for 70-hour work weeks. Kapoor, however, took a stand against this approach, believing it to be counterproductive.

He also pointed out, “Those who say they work till 3 am, never say that they reach the office by 1 pm the next day,” further criticising the culture of showcasing long hours as a badge of honour. The Swiggy CEObluntly added, "It's bullsh*t," shedding light on how this behaviour can harm both mental and physical health.

Social media reaction

Kapoor’s remarks quickly gained traction online, with a video clip from the event going viral, amassing 1.2 million views and over 130,000 likes. Many users expressed their agreement with his statements.

One comment read, “Narayan Murthy getting panic attacks watching this,” while another noted, “Finally someone talked like normal to all of us”. Another person commented, "Can't agree more."

(With inputs from agencies)