Teacher’s Day Special: Famous students pay tribute to their mentors

Famous students pay a personal tribute to their mentors, guides and life coaches...

Famous students pay a personal tribute to their mentors, guides and life coaches...

“He taught me the Chinese are beatable”

Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on her coach Pullela Gopichand

(AFP)

I’ve been training with Gopi Sir since I was 10. As a coach, Gopi Sir is the most dedicated teacher you can hope for. He is at the academy from morning to evening every day. Whether it is a senior player or a junior, he pays equal attention to all. Since I am very tall, he has taught me the importance of building strength through weight sessions and running. The greatest lesson he taught me: To believe that Chinese players are beatable.

– As told to Aasheesh Sharma

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“Don’t praise yourself, be critical, Rahul said”

Architect Ashiesh Shah on architect Rahul Mehrotra (left)

Despite years of practice, you get a different insight when you see Rahul’s approach to work. Since he practises in Boston and India, I learnt how to get work done even if you’re not physically present. He taught me to look for what’s wrong rather than what’s right – to be critical and find solutions to problems, rather than praise your own work.

– As told to Shikha Kumar

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“I didn’t want to sing. He inspired me to”

Singer Shilpa Rao on singer Hariharan

I met Hariharan ji as a kid. I didn’t exactly want to be a musician or a singer. But meeting him changed everything. I wouldn’t be singing if it wasn’t for him. I didn’t have much faith in myself as a singer. The best thing about him was that he never made a big deal about my mistakes. Instead he would say, “What if you do this in this manner?”

– As told to Atisha Jain

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“Karan is my 24/7 go-to person”

Actor Sidharth Malhotra on filmmaker Karan Johar (left)

Karan has been the most amazing mentor that I could’ve asked for in the industry. My experience of working as assistant director on My Name Is Khan is one of my most cherished times. Karan is extremely helpful and a 24x7 go-to person if you’re ever stuck. He has guided me whenever I needed help. I cannot thank him enough for the opportunity he gave me with Student Of The Year. I still go to him if I need advice or I just want to bounce off an idea as I really value his opinion.

– As told to Satarupa Paul

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“Don’t be impatient with rookies”

Shilpa Marwaha on theatre director Arvind Gaur

The biggest lesson that I have learnt from Arvind Gaur, the founder of Asmita, is not to dismiss even the most inexperienced of students or be impatient with rookies. When I first approached Arvind Ji to join the troupe, I had faced a lot of rejections from a few directors. But he took me on and over the years has brought out the best in me. It is his penchant for being really patient with beginners that gives them wings and I was no different. I transformed from doing street plays on socially relevant subjects on the roads of Delhi, to doing solo plays such as A Woman Alone, which is a stark take on marital rape and oppression. Of course, he has taught me to be socially sensitive, a quality that impressed Oscar-winning filmmaker Ross Kauffman to come down to India and make a documentary that features my work.

To accept every new actor and not judge them, without letting them feel inferior requires a certain sensitivity which Arvind Sir has. If for some reason, one of his students has lagged behind, he doesn’t insist on hastening the process or looking for short term results. His mantra to us: Keep doing your best and working towards your long-term goal.

– As told to Aasheesh Sharma

From HT Brunch, September 4, 2016

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