‘Jaanta Hai Tera Baap…’: Zomato CEO Recounts Father’s Words, PM Modi Says ‘Surname Doesn’t Matter’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said one’s surname does not matter in today’s India, while praising Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal for his “inspiring journey”. He stressed that only “hard work” matters in the long run.

Goyal, who was speaking at an event organised by union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, recounted his entrepreneurial journey and how his father had questioned his idea to launch a startup, coming from a humble background. The video was shared by union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who highlighted what the business tycoon said about the central government’s initiatives playing a major part in his success.

“When I started Zomato in 2008, my father used to say ‘tu jaanta hai tera baap kaun hai’ as my dad thought I could never do a startup given our humble background. This government and their initiatives enabled a small town boy like me to build something like Zomato, which employs lakhs of people today!” Goyal said at the event, as posted by Puri on X.

Responding to the minister’s post and tagging Goyal, the prime minister said: “In today’s India, one’s surname doesn’t matter. What matters is hardwork. Your journey is truly inspiring, @deepigoyal! It motivates countless youngsters to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We are committed to providing the right environment for the startups to flourish.”

Goyal’s personal anecdote about initial scepticism on his father’s part quickly gained traction on social media. In the clip, he is heard recounting his father’s reaction to his decision to launch Zomato 16 years ago in 2008. He said being a small-town boy from Punjab, he faced a lot of questions from his family about how he could turn his idea into a lucrative business.

“But it was this government and their initiatives that enabled a small town boy like me to build something like Zomato, which employs lakhs of people today!” he said in his speech.

Zomato, which stands as India’s biggest food delivery service, started as a restaurant listing and review platform. From there, it has expanded to more than 1,000 cities. Goyal is a graduate of the premier IIT-Delhi.

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