Chitrangada Singh: What is one tip that you would like to give to all the women who are wanting to invest? I mean men invest and they know about stocks; but the women.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: No, I think women also know and understand, but the problem is that tips are hazardous for health and you cannot make money from broader knowledge and stock investing is like cooking and cannot be taught, it has to be learned.
Chitrangada Singh: It has to be learned! So, you have to waste some money and burn your fingers?
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: You have got to experience because something which cannot be taught has to be learned. I mean it is like cooking … what my mother makes is much better than what the cook can make.
Chitrangada Singh: But you know the recipe book … so let us open up a page and tell us something that you can ….
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Madam, the quest to learn is a journey. I have learned much but much is still unlearned. I do not think, like people say, that I am a guru or I know everything. But I can tell you markets are like women, always commanding, always mysterious, always volatile, always exciting and it is not a joke.
In my 25-30 years of experience in the markets, just as you cannot have a good relationship with a woman by bullying her, you cannot have a good relationship with the market by trying to bully it or say that you are the king. Market is king.
Chitrangada Singh: Basically, like the market is taking the nation down, just as a woman takes down the nation!
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: No, markets are not taking the nation down. Markets are reflecting the realities of the nation.
Chitrangada Singh: So okay, one very important question that I have. Are we going through a recession because I think we are? As much as everything else tells us we have such fantastic investments coming in, FDI is growing and everything is happening but I really think when I feel around me, I think there’s a recession which nobody is talking about?
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: I think there is a slowdown, there is a recession, no doubt about it. There is a recession in Bollywood I do not think so. Films are getting expensive by the day. They are making more money by the day.
Chitrangada Singh: They are making more money by the day for sure, yes.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: So, I mean there is a slowdown in the country but I think it is temporary, it will reverse itself.
Chitrangada Singh: Yes, properties are dropping a little.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Properties are not dropping.
Chitrangada Singh: You would not know, I am telling you, little bit, I think there is a slight drop. I think you are right.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: So you invest in property?
Chitrangada Singh: Yes, some.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Feel very safe about it?
Chitrangada Singh: Sort of because I think that is one thing that would probably, you know at least it is on ground and it is there instead of papers in your locker.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: But I think those lockers and the papers are far easier and far profitable to deal with than property. Anyway, let as talk about yourself, what have been your childhood experiences and how do you remember it, what is it that you remember of your childhood, your education?
Chitrangada Singh: My childhood experience, my father was in the army. I remember small cantonment areas where all families lived together and I remember clubs, I remember going with my mother for these ladies’ meets.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Kitty parties!
Chitrangada Singh: Yes, they have ladies’ parties where … it is not exactly like a party but actually they work with the wives of soldiers. There is something called a Bada Khana where everybody comes, all the men from all ranks, everybody comes together and have dinner. So, memories from the army yes, I remember, cycling to swimming pools with friends, cycling to school. Yes, it is just all of that.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: So, it’s always been the physical activity, intensive physical activity?
Chitrangada Singh: Not intensive, just really having fun, just being out … actually yes.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: What about your siblings?
Chitrangada Singh: I have a brother who is older than me. He is a professional golfer. His name is Digvijay, so it is the two of us.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: And what brought you to the world of glamour and modelling?
Chitrangada Singh: I started by making some pocket money. That is the only reason why I started modelling.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: You were in Delhi?
Chitrangada Singh: In Delhi, yes, when I was in college in fact.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Lady Irwin?
Chitrangada Singh: Lady Irwin College, yes.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: What did you study there? History or English?
Chitrangada Singh: No, Food Nutrition.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: You are applying all that later on?
Chitrangada Singh: Yes.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Has it been worthwhile to come to the world of glamour, doing a lot of sacrifice in the world interacting ….
Chitrangada Singh: Yes, but I think that is anywhere in the world. That kind of uncertainty, insecurity, all kinds of people are in the world; but the good thing is that I love it and it is not just for the fact that you get to be sitting here but also that it is so creative, it is so exciting, it is so different everyday. I feel very blessed for the fact that I get to do something that I love instead of swiping a card everyday and going for a 9 to 5 job and getting a cheque which is great as well but this is something that I enjoy and I am very happy to be here.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Someone called you the personification of Indian beauty. I think the F1 and F2 drivers?
Chitrangada Singh: I read that.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: How do you feel about it?
Chitrangada Singh: Yes, it is a compliment. I am very bad with taking compliments but I think that is a great complaint, yes.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: Then what is Indian beauty according to you?
Chitrangada Singh: What they mean is oriental looking, it is the features I guess. I think we should check with them what they meant by that?
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala: You did not check with them?
Chitrangada Singh: I have not checked with them. I read about it in the newspaper. No, I have not checked.
Source: economictimes
