Persevere - Never Give Up!

Atul Kasbekar
Celebrity photographer and producer

My parents were staunch believers in the merits of hard work - they believed there was no substitute for it and no shortcuts either. They not only preached its values but also practised it earnestly.

Though they supported me in everything I did, they weren't comfortable with my choice of photography as a career. I was a class topper, a burly athlete, and followed the rule book. But I was headstrong and knew what I wanted. I guess they wanted to see if I would persevere and not give up on my dream. That's one of the biggest lessons I learnt from them.

As a parent of twin teens, I follow an open door policy. I give them due respect and encourage them to explore. With me, they know they'll get a fair verdict and, therefore, don't feel the need to hide anything from me. My message to them is, find your passion and chase what you love! For, if you do so, you will not have to 'work' for a single day in your life. And that's true bliss!