The most definitive quality of entrepreneurship is that it's such an immersive sensory journey- viscerally punishing and rewarding in equal parts. It's what makes entrepreneur's stories so much more compelling to tell, much like watching twists and turns unfold in your typical plot-driven blockbuster. At MYB, we decided to ask a few entrepreneurs about how they find fodder for inspiration as they script, direct and act out their roles. Grab some popcorn; we've got quite a show lined up!  

The Inspired: Anirban Das Blah| MD, CAA KWAN

Movie: Jerry Maguire

In a dramatic scene in the movie, Maguire's client, football player Rod Tidwell called this intangible relationship-"Not just the money, not just the coin, it's the KWAN- love, respect, community and dollars, too, the whole package." For Blah, "Jerry Maguire was a way for living with soul and integrity. Essentially, it's about doing what's good for the long-term and not be blinded by short-term gain. When we entered the industry, agents were mostly considered transactional and exploitative. That was the norm. We didn't want it to be like that." He christened his talent management company, KWAN after drawing inspiration from the movie. 

The Inspired: Ashwin Naik| Founder & CEO, Vaatsalya Hospitals

It's easy to cast Ashwin Naik in the role of a do-gooder, compassionate doctor. By kick starting the affordable healthcare trend in states of south India, Vaatsalya hospitals have made it possible for rural and semi-urban communities to access high-quality, inexpensive health care. However, Naik's choice of inspiring movies reflects how lightly he wears his superstar social entrepreneurship badge. 

Movie #1: Ocean's Eleven
"This one seems like an unlikely film for business lessons but I’ve picked up so much from it that I watch it every now and then to reinforce those lessons. For example, in the beginning of the movie, George Clooney’s character, Danny Ocean, sets out to assemble a team for an ambitious plan to rob three casinos. I don’t think they start with the idea of having 11 people in the team. But, once a team of 10 is put together (to bring different skills on board), they feel that there are still some skills missing and realise they need a “grease man”. When they spot a man turning cartwheels, they know that they have got their grease man, and they get him on board. As a company builder, I thought that was very interesting—it shows that first, you really need to know the skill you want on your team before you go out and get it."

Movie #2: Boiler Room 
"This is another heist drama, and another team being recruited. Again, in the beginning of the movie, there’s a bunch of recruits where the lead actor is trying to tell everybody to act “as if”. Basically, he meant that you have to live your part, and do it convincingly. That is so true of entrepreneurship. When you’re starting off, you’re a twiddly-looking company constantly asked to pitch to investors, bankers or others. It’s possible to be stumped at times by their questions. But, being able to act “as if” is important. The actual word is “hustle”. At times, you don’t know something but you need to behave as if you do, and act as you go along."

Movie #3: JFK
"The thing that struck me most about Kevin Costner’ portrayal of the prosecutor Jim Garrison in this movie about solving the John F Kennedy assassination case is that everybody, including his wife, abandons him. Yet, he continues to pursue the case with an almost-obsessive persistence. That’s a reasonably-expected characteristic from a decent entrepreneur. In our roles, persistence is the key to success

The Inspired: Anil Kaul| Founder & CEO ABSOLUTDATA

Much like the mountain peaks he likes hiking on, (Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in continental United States being his most recent conquest), Anil Kaul’s business goals are set as high for his 12-year-old market research and analytics company AbsolutData. Nothing less than becoming the “most impactful, most respected and most powerful analytics firm that has ever existed” is the 250-people company’s stated vision. On his own part, Kaul wants to hike the base camp of Mount Everest soon. Could the Big B himself have had something to do with these grand ambitions?

Movie #1: Rocket Singh, Salesman Of the Year 

"This movie isn’t so much about inspiration as it is about relating to the journey of the characters in the movie. A lot of companies start exactly in the same way the protagonist and his friend begin their business—identifying a market gap, and providing the services required. The pain, the troubles and joys they go through rang so true. It reminded me of so many moments enroute building AbsolutData."

Movie #2: Zanjeer 
"What I love about this movie is that, for once, there is a character who isn't willing to accept a given situation. As an entrepreneur, that happens a lot. You often find yourself in situations and circumstances that you’d not want to work in and would rather be bold, and go out and change the whole paradigm. In Zanjeer,Amitabh Bachchan’s character inspector Vijay, has an abiding focus— to change the entire system, and not settle for any wrongs. It’s about saying that I’m not going to be shaped by what is happening to me, but actually change the influences. I watched this movie before I became an entrepreneur, and remember feeling an exhilaration to be my own person and scripting my own decisions. "

Movie #3: Twelve Angry Men
"This entire film has been shot inside a single room where a jury of 12 people is deliberating on convicting a man accused of murder. There is near unanimity among the jury about the guilt of the accused, except one jury member. The movie is that one person’s attempt to make the other 11 see why the accused is not guilty. It’s amazing to see how he does it. To me, that was so inspirational. Even as an entrepreneur, you need to understand the motivations and attitudes that are shaping the decisions of your employee or clients. No two view points are the same."

The Inspired: Gopi Natarajan| Co-Founder President, Omega Healthcare

Gopi Natarajan is one of those people who sound like they are built for success. Omega Healthcare, the health care revenue management company he set up in 2004 with partner Anurag Mehta, today has a run rate of more than $38 million, and around 4,500 employees across its facilities in Bangalore, Chennai and Trichy. Natarajan says they're on course to having 10,000 employees within three years as they continue their annual 35 per cent growth rate. Now, how did the The Godfather help him do this?

Movie #1: The Godfather 
"For me, this iconic movie is a great lesson in leadership and decision making. Vito Corleone, the character played by Marlon Brando is a nice guy. But, when it comes to business, it is purely business. Corleone takes swift decisions at the right time— something critical for entrepreneurs. But more than that, there’s a lot to learn about grooming the next generation from this movie. As a founder CEO, that is very important; you can’t afford to be everywhere. You have to pick the right people and prepare them for greater responsibilities."

Movie #2: Wall Steet 
"It’s one of those movies that I think has a great message—that you can be the smartest guy in the world like Gordon Gekko,] Michael Douglas's character in the movie, but there really are no get-rich-quick schemesin life. If you do so, you get caught out, and lose. In that sense, Wall Street is a very powerful movie on the subject of greed. Greed for the short-term will never last; you have to put in the hard work needed for long-haul success."