‘Kitne aadmi the’: Ex Tech Mahindra CEO calls TCS layoffs end of ‘Sholay era’ in IT companies

By Admin

29 Jul, 2025

The Indian IT industry is standing at a crossroads, and the signs of change are hard to miss. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services provider, recently announced the layoff of around 12,000 employees a move that has sparked intense discussion across the sector. One of the most striking responses came from former Tech Mahindra CEO Chander Prakash Gurnani, who linked this development to the end of what he calls the “Sholay era” of IT referring to the famous Bollywood film dialogue, “Kitne aadmi the?”

The Shift Away from Headcount-Based Evaluation

Gurnani, an industry veteran, used the iconic phrase not just for flair, but to underline a major transformation in how IT companies are being evaluated. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, he said,

“The focus on the Sholay dialogue 'Kitne aadmi the' or judging the Indian IT industry based on headcount thank god that period will be over.”

For years, the strength and success of Indian IT firms were often judged by the size of their workforce. But Gurnani believes that era is fading fast. According to him, the future lies in output and outcome-based business models, where the focus will be on efficiency, innovation, and the value delivered to clients, rather than just the number of employees.

AI as a Catalyst for Change

TCS’s decision to cut its workforce by 2% impacting primarily mid-level and senior employees is being seen as a strategic realignment in response to evolving technology and client needs. Gurnani emphasized that AI is not a job killer but a job shifter. While certain roles may be phased out, a new breed of tech jobs is emerging.

“If you see the job openings at these companies, they have only increased since the previous year,” he noted. “This is because they need more AI engineers, more data scientists, prompt engineers, and people who can collapse a few functions of an organisation.”

In short, AI is reshaping roles, not erasing them. The Indian IT industry must embrace this change and re-skill its workforce accordingly.

New Opportunities in a Changing Landscape

Rather than mourning job cuts, Gurnani expresses optimism for the future. He believes Indian IT has an opportunity to lead global innovation, especially in platform development and AI application.

“I am actually quite excited because we, as in the Indian IT industry, have a chance to prove that we will build platforms and accelerate innovation,” he said. “We will rule the world focusing on the application cycle.”

A Slowing Hiring Trend

While the industry prepares for this transformation, the hiring slowdown is already visible. According to Economic Times, the top six Indian IT firms added just 3,847 employees between April and June 2025 a significant drop from the 13,935 hires in the previous quarter. This dip underscores the changing dynamics of recruitment, where quality and specialization matter more than volume.

Conclusion: A New Era Begins

The “Sholay era” of Indian IT marked by massive workforces and headcount pride is drawing to a close. Companies like TCS are now prioritizing agility, innovation, and AI-driven transformation. As Gurnani suggests, it’s time to stop asking “Kitne aadmi the?” and start focusing on “Kya kaam hua?” (What value was delivered?). In this new chapter, outcomes will matter more than manpower, and India’s IT leaders must adapt quickly to stay ahead.