Meghna Ghai Puri, once a shy little girl raised in the lap of glitz and glamour, has grown into a poised and accomplished woman who seamlessly juggles multiple roles—daughter, mother, wife, and the president of Whistling Woods International (WWI) in Mumbai, India which was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s best film school list in 2014.
The daughter of Subhash Ghai, often called the showman of Hindi cinema (maker of blockbusters such as Khalnyak, Ram Lakhan, Pardes, and Karma), Meghna holds a degree in business management from King’s College, London, and runs the film school alongside her husband, Rahul Puri. Amid her demanding schedule, she remains deeply committed to Buddhism, crediting it with grounding her and shaping her outlook on life.
In this interview with Ashish Virmani, she opens up about her life, her family and being a member of the Soka Gakkai, which traces its roots to the 800-year-old tradition of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism and how it transformed her personality and helped her navigate the challenges of her professional life.
Ashish Virmani: Meghna, why would you say that taking to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism was one of the primary experiences in your life?
Meghna Ghai Puri: I think it was almost like a rebirth for me. I felt like a new person when I started practicing Buddhism. It didn’t happen instantly—it took me a couple of years to really understand the depth of the Buddhist practice. When I joined the practice, I was in my thirties and had a ritualistic notion about spirituality. It took me a couple of years to unlearn what I knew about life, about spirituality, about religion. During the first two years of practicing Buddhism, I grew as a person without even knowing or making a conscious effort. That’s when I realized that there is a lot more to this practice than I’d imagined and that I was just touching the surface.
Which other primary experiences made you who you are today?
Meghna: The first influence, of course, was my upbringing. My dad led a high-profile life and was known for making larger-than-life films, so our home was always full of stars and dinner parties. Though overwhelmed, my mom, Rehana, graciously hosted guests. Yet, my parents ensured I stayed protected from the glamour and stayed grounded. The values they instilled in me, along with my schooling, shaped the person I am today. So one aspect of who I am is because of them.
The second turning point came when I met my husband, Rahul, in 1996. I’d just entered college in London and lacked confidence then. He became a friend who helped me recognize my strength and my true potential. We started dating and I realized he could appreciate aspects of me that I never knew existed. An investment banker, he stood by me through college and my work. He even chose to return to India for me despite his family being based in Wales. He’s been like a rock to me. It takes a lot for anyone to let his or her partner take all the limelight. He made a lot of sacrifices to be with me, and that itself boosts my confidence.
“I felt like a new person when I started practicing Buddhism. It didn’t happen instantly—it took me a couple of years to really understand the depth of the Buddhist practice.”
~Meghna Ghai Puri
You have a spiritual mentor in Daisaku Ikeda, the founding president of Soka Gakkai International. He is an educator, like you. What did you learn from him?
Meghna Ghai Puri: What I find absolutely amazing about Daisaku Ikeda is that he was an ordinary person who expressed himself with honesty. From him, I learned that regardless of who you are or the problems you face, you must stay focused on your goals and fulfill them for the greater good of society. I would chant the Buddhist mantra (Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō) and tell myself, “I want my heart to be like my mentor’s. I want to have the same compassion that Sensei (Daisaku Ikeda) had.” The greatest thing that I learned from Ikeda’s life is that you can win and be victorious without hurting others—simply through kindness. Those lessons have been invaluable.
As president of Whistling Woods film school, what do you see as your primary role?
Meghna: Though I shoulder several responsibilities, my primary role is to hold everything together and make it beautiful so that everybody who enters the campus feels happy and welcomed. And that takes a lot. That requires attention to every detail—from looking after every person in your team to ensuring each one is flourishing.
That is my larger goal. And I achieve it by constantly being in touch with my team and my students. Besides, I also strive to ensure we are well-represented globally because that builds institutional pride. Equally important is staying connected with the film industry (Bollywood) and fostering goodwill within it. I think all of this stems from being a good human being. If you’re a good human being, everybody will respect you and help you.
Who have been the most influential figures in your life?
Meghna: Besides Daisaku Ikeda, my greatest influence has been my parents, especially my dad. You can see how much he’s taught me, how much he believes in me, and how much I’ve learned from him. My learning from him began when I turned 16, but before that, it was from my mother, who shaped my core values as a human being. Though she was a homemaker, she was ambitious for me. My dad shaped me professionally and helped me become the person I am today.
Once I started working with my dad, I realized he was not just making movies but building an ecosystem around him. Most of the people working with him were newcomers to whom he had given opportunities, and in return, he earned their loyalty. One of the important things that I’ve learned from my dad is resilience. My dad has seen both success and failure, yet I’ve never seen him affected by it. He’s just smiled through it. If I can inherit even 10 percent of that resilience, I’ll be sorted.
Your father was known as the great showman of Indian cinema. Why did he start a film school?
Meghna: Yes, that’s exactly the point. I still remember when we started Whistling Woods, one of our auditors asked to meet with me. During our meeting, he said, “We’ve always known Subhash Ghai as a great businessman and that he makes commercial movies that benefit everyone. But why would he build a school that is completely loss-making?”
I told him, “This is never a business venture. It came from his heart. It was a promise he made to himself.”
When my dad came to Mumbai after passing out from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune, he struggled a lot. Doors were shut in his face, studios turned him away, and he had no contacts in the industry. It was back then that he made a promise to himself that if he ever succeeded, he would give back to this industry by building a school, a library, or any space where people could come together and find each other without any connection.
He had been nurturing this dream for a long time. So when he spoke to me, I knew it was something he wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure how far he would go to make it happen. But he actually launched an IPO. His Mukta Arts became the first film company to be listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange, so my dad could build a film school.
He often says his predecessors built studios for their children; he didn’t want his children to live off just rent—he wanted me to have a career and a vision for myself. I think the institute really gave me that. He created an entity on its own with a legacy. It was such a wise and amazing decision. Of course, it’s not as profitable as the studios, but the goodwill it has earned us is priceless. Today, 4,000 alumni are working in the film industry, and the respect they have for us is deeply fulfilling.
“I feel true leadership is about being a good human being—empowering your team, showing empathy, being fair, and leading with integrity.”
~Meghna Ghai Puri
What are the unique qualities that you bring to your role of leadership as a woman and a Buddhist?
Meghna: I got a compliment from somebody who’s worked with me for 20 years. She said, “I like you more as a human being than I like you as a professional.” I said, “That feels like a backhanded compliment!” But I thought that was actually quite nice. At the end of the day, there will always be many experts in their fields, but being valued as a person matters more.
The competition today is intense, and retaining people has been one of the biggest challenges at Whistling Woods. But we’ve been lucky to have people with us since we started. I think that’s a blessing because in an educational institution, continuity is important. I feel true leadership is about being a good human being—empowering your team, showing empathy, being fair, and leading with integrity.
Which women have influenced you the most?
Meghna: I know it sounds like a cliché, but again, my mother. You have to give your mother credit first because that’s where you learned everything you have. Besides her, there are so many. I often say that it’s actually not that only a famous person inspires you. It can be that one colleague of mine who leaves her small baby at home, commutes for two hours by train, and still gives her best at work. Or someone struggling in life and still has a smile on their face.
I think you can find inspiration in women everywhere. Even my househelp inspires me. She is frail and struggles with arthritis, but she needs to make money. She’s a single mother; she comes in every day, finishes her work, and then goes to her next job. I think women can be inspiring in so many different ways. Just look around; you will find inspiration everywhere.
Learn more about Whistling Woods International: https://www.whistlingwoods.net/
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