Sharmila Tagore pays tribute to Ratan Tata; says, "I feel privileged to have known him"

Indian industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata breathed his last on October 9. His death spread a wave of sorrow in India as well as world over. This also includes Bollywood celebrities. Some of them shared their thoughts on Tata’s demise.

Sharmila Tagore: He's part of such a glorious legacy. He really made so many changes when he took over his organization, you know; already there were a lot of people entrenched in different companies. They all resisted the change. Then some left quietly, some had to be pushed out. And he did all that at a very young age. And took over and did so well. I had the opportunity to interact with him personally. It was an event organized by the World Monuments Fund and Mr Tata was given the Hadrian Award for the Tata family’s work in philanthropy. It was for the Tata family’s contribution to the preservation of our cultural heritage. I was invited to host the event. And they flew me all the way first class. And kept me at the Plaza hotel for three days. Just to introduce him, you know. So, which I did, I think I did it well also.

Then they had a private auction where they raised money for the preservation of heritage sites, heritage monuments. I had, not jokingly, mentioned why our community, cinema can’t have a museum or something, film restoration or a museum or archive. He took it so seriously. He promptly asked me, ‘How much money do you want?’ I told him I don’t want any money, that I was not representing our industry. The family is so profoundly well-known. The Tatas helped the Indian economy grow. They were instrumental in pushing the country forward. But I feel privileged to have known Ratan Tata.”

Celina Jaitley: The Son of India has left a big void in hearts of all Indians. As a visionary leader and a beacon of integrity, he has left an indelible mark on India's industrial landscape. He rewrote all the rules of entrepreneurship in India. Under his stewardship, the Tata Group transformed into a global powerhouse, emphasizing innovation and ethical business practices in India. His commitment to philanthropy and social responsibility has inspired countless lives, proving that business success can indeed coexist with a sense of duty to society. With a legacy of courage and compassion, he will always be remembered as a true pioneer who believed in building a better future for all. I wonder if we will get to see another gem like him in our lifetime. One of his quotes has been an integral motivator in my journey - “None can destroy iron, but its own rust can! Likewise, none can destroy a person, but their own mindset can.” It is indeed a big loss for India and humanity in general. I pray that he rests in power.

Purab Kohli: I didn't meet him but one always respected his journey and how dignified he remained even being at the position that he has been in, and one has tremendous respect for the Tata organization and how it's contributed on so many levels to India, in terms of the respectability of the country. You know, Subhash, Tata is not just a name. It's a brand. It's a business that one can easily point out world over. I live in the UK and

one of the biggest brands, over here is the Jaguar Land Rover. Everybody knows the Tatas.

I have my own Ratan Tata story. I was once in the Burj Khalifa Dubai and I was in one of those fancy restaurants down there having a meal. There was an Indian waiter there from Assam and he was escorting me in there and I was talking to him and I said, “Oh you're from India and he said yeah I'm an Indian. I'm from Assam and then I was just making small talk, and I was like because it was a long walk he was taking me down this corridor and I said to him where all have you worked and he said, “Oh I've worked in all the big hotels and I've worked at the Taj and he said the difference between other hotels and the Taj Hotel is that when you work for other hotels it's all about the customer being everything and you're giving all this customer service and he said at the Taj it's not the customer, it's the guest and that makes a big difference in the employees’ approach towards the people we are serving.” And it just overwhelmed me. I think Ratan Tata of course was an embodiment of all of that he went through the rigmarole of the organization and became that person who represented and spearheaded such a grand and such a dignified brand and I think he embodied all of its values, and one can see it now. One feels a big loss for the country.

Also Read: Sharmila Tagore expresses gratitude after Gulmohar wins National Award for Best Hindi Film

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