To Grow Big Start Small'

On ambition: Yes, I am ambitious, though it would be incorrect to call me over ambitious. I want to march ahead. Unless you have ambition you can't achieve this goal. Ambition is contagious. It has caught on with my partners in the power projects. Today they look upon me as their leader. I'd love to continue in this role. We are a good team, so why not we play better. I don't hesitate in saying that I bulldoze people into action so that a project bears fruit soon.

 I have been able to prove myself. Now very big companies want to work only with the GVK group. The Andhra Pradesh government as well as the Union Government is very happy with our success. And in its board meeting, IFC said that GVK is the best developer in India. GVK International is now going to compete with international power companies working in West and South East Asia. I've spent many years in the United States. And it's from American companies that I learnt that the best way to grow big is by starting small.

On why other private power projects have failed to take off: It's because they want things on a silver platter. Nobody is willing to take risks or lead the way. People are willing to invest provided there is leadership. In power projects, the investment is undoubtedly big, but you can't really lose money. First, one has to tie up the purchase of power from the project. You break even the very day power generation starts. Opportunities don't come your way all the time; so why not grab them before it's too late.

On his entry into power: I was living in the US when India announced her liberalisation programme in 1991. I first travelled to Eastern Europe to assess business opportunities there, but found the environment in those countries pretty disorganised. I then realised that my own country is, after all, the best to do business in.