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: to juggle so many interests and break world records to boot along with his high-profile job. Singhania has been quoted saying that if “you want to do something you just do it. If you don’t want to do it you will find many reasons for it.” Like they say where there is a will there is a way.

Born as the second son to Mohan R Nilekani, a manager in Minerva Mills, Nandan Nilekani, spent his first 12 years in Bangalore. His father's job was transferable, and he had to move to his uncle’s place in Dharwad for his studies. Being good in his studies, in 1973 he entered the portals of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, without much hassle. One day after graduating in 1978, Nandan walked into the cabin of N R Narayana Murthy — the then head of the software group at the Mumbai-based Patni Computer Systems — for a job.

Their chemistry clicked and Murthy hired the young engineering graduate rightaway. Neither of them realised then that the relationship would last long and get etched in India’s corporate annals.

Three years later (1981) seven enthusiasts (including Nandan) decided to start their own outfit (Infosys Technologies Ltd) with Murthy in the lead. Their decision rewrote the domestic software industry of India.

He became the chief executive officer (CEO) of Infosys in March 2002. He currently functions as the president, CEO, and managing director of the company.

He is a co-founder of India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). He is also the chairperson of Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF). He has been named one of ‘Asia’s Power 25 — the most powerful people in business in Asia’ by Fortune magazine, 2004.

The most memorable moment (until he won the coveted Padma award that is) in Nilekani’s professional life was the listing of Infosys on the Nasdaq in 1999.