‘Don’t know if Mukesh Bhai invests in stock market’: Nikhil Kamath cracks stock market joke on Mukesh Ambani, leaves Nita Ambani in splits

Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) is always in the spotlight, whether it’s for dazzling dance performances by Bollywood star kids at its annual day or the inspiring speeches

during its graduation convocation. This year, at its 21st graduation ceremony, the buzz was around Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, who took the centre stage as the event’s chief guest.

In a light-hearted moment, Kamath joked about Mukesh Ambani’s interest in the stock market. “I don’t know how much Mukesh Bhai is into stock markets,” he said with a grin, prompting laughter

all around. The camera then caught Nita Ambani shaking her head in a clear ‘no.’

Kamath then quickly added with a grin, “But if anyone here knows what will happen tomorrow, it’s probably him.”

During his address, he shared candid insights into his unconventional journey and his deep connection with the stock markets. Kamath began with a reflection on his first business venture,

selling mobile phones as a teenager.

“I dropped out of school at 15 and started selling phones. It was a good business; I had about 10 or 20 phones in inventory at one point, and honestly, I had a lot of fun doing it,” he

recalled. Following that, Kamath worked a night shift at a Bengaluru call centre, selling accidental health insurance to British customers. “My first salary was around Rs 8,000,” he said

with a chuckle.

But it was during those long nights and free days that he discovered his true passion: the stock market.

Reflecting on his 21 years as a trader and investor, Kamath drew parallels between relationships and the stock market. “When you start dating someone, things seem great at first, then they

get bad, and if you stay the course, they get better again,” he explained. He emphasised the importance of resilience and objectivity, both in trading and in life. “Being stable and not

reacting in chaos is probably the biggest skill to succeed.”

Kamath also spoke about the value of surrounding oneself with driven and grounded people who share strong moral values, stressing this influence can outweigh the choice of career or college.

Wrapping up, Kamath shared a piece of unconventional advice, “Hard work is not that important.” He confessed that much of his time at work was spent in conversations and reflection rather

than constant grinding. His message to the younger ones was that success is as much about mindset, perseverance, and the company you keep as it is about effort.