Puneet Gupta, the CEO and founder of AstroTalk, recently shared an amusing story about how people’s perceptions can change once money enters the picture. The Noida-based entrepreneur narrated an incident involving his newly appointed driver, illustrating how a simple phone conversation transformed the man’s behavior overnight.
According to Gupta, he had hired a driver for the first time, and during the initial two days, their interactions were entirely casual and comfortable. However, by the third day, things took an unexpected turn. The driver suddenly began opening the car door for him as though he were a VIP. Taken aback, Gupta politely asked him not to do so and explained that his priority should be getting the car ready quickly rather than engaging in unnecessary gestures. The driver insisted that such acts were part of his duty, but Gupta didn’t think much of it—until later, when the reason became clear.
Upon reflection, Gupta realized that the change in behavior had occurred after the driver overheard him on a phone call discussing financial matters involving hundreds of crores. That brief conversation completely shifted the driver’s perception of his employer, leading him to treat Gupta with exaggerated deference. Gupta’s anecdote humorously highlighted how money can influence how people view and treat others, even in the smallest social interactions.
Gupta, who often speaks candidly about his journey, describes himself as coming from a humble, lower-middle-class background. Despite his success in building one of India’s leading astrology platforms, he maintains a modest lifestyle. In a Quora post from a few years ago, he mentioned that he still drives the same Hyundai Grand i10 he purchased in 2015, proving that wealth has not altered his personal habits.
He also once shared that his entrepreneurial path began unexpectedly after a breakup. He had been dating a woman from a financially well-off family who frequently urged him to achieve more. Following a heated argument, Gupta decided to resign from his job and return to his hometown, Bathinda, in Punjab. That turning point—both personal and professional—eventually led him to establish AstroTalk, the venture that changed his life.
According to Gupta, he had hired a driver for the first time, and during the initial two days, their interactions were entirely casual and comfortable. However, by the third day, things took an unexpected turn. The driver suddenly began opening the car door for him as though he were a VIP. Taken aback, Gupta politely asked him not to do so and explained that his priority should be getting the car ready quickly rather than engaging in unnecessary gestures. The driver insisted that such acts were part of his duty, but Gupta didn’t think much of it—until later, when the reason became clear.
Upon reflection, Gupta realized that the change in behavior had occurred after the driver overheard him on a phone call discussing financial matters involving hundreds of crores. That brief conversation completely shifted the driver’s perception of his employer, leading him to treat Gupta with exaggerated deference. Gupta’s anecdote humorously highlighted how money can influence how people view and treat others, even in the smallest social interactions.
Gupta, who often speaks candidly about his journey, describes himself as coming from a humble, lower-middle-class background. Despite his success in building one of India’s leading astrology platforms, he maintains a modest lifestyle. In a Quora post from a few years ago, he mentioned that he still drives the same Hyundai Grand i10 he purchased in 2015, proving that wealth has not altered his personal habits.
He also once shared that his entrepreneurial path began unexpectedly after a breakup. He had been dating a woman from a financially well-off family who frequently urged him to achieve more. Following a heated argument, Gupta decided to resign from his job and return to his hometown, Bathinda, in Punjab. That turning point—both personal and professional—eventually led him to establish AstroTalk, the venture that changed his life.
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