Best known for his powerful on-screen performances, Ashish Vidyarthi has also carved a distinct identity as a motivational speaker, leadership coach, and founder of Ashish Vidyarthi & Associates (Avid Miner). For over two decades, he has worked closely with organisations, leaders, and individuals across the world, inspiring them to see possibility, hope, and growth in everyday life. In this interview, he reflects on the Indian education system, leadership, critical thinking, and the simple yet profound lessons hidden in ordinary lives
Q: How do you view the Indian education system today?
Traditionally, Indian education was divided into three broad categories. There were village schools that were deeply underprivileged, then reasonably good schools that were slightly expensive, and finally elitist institutions accessible only to a few. Interestingly, many remarkable individuals have emerged from the lowest and middle segments because they had immense hunger and very little to fall back on.
Education, in India, has always been seen as a way out. An entrepreneur once told me that what makes Indian education special is the education system itself and the Indian mother. Education is viewed as the escape from economic and social traps. Even the poorest families believe that learning can change their destiny, and that belief is extraordinary.
Today, education is available to many, not just a few. With the rise of private schools, more opportunities have opened up. While one can debate the quality or commercialisation of education, the reality is that more people now have access. Many families work incredibly hard so their children can study, and some students truly make the most of these opportunities.
Q: Could you tell us about your work beyond acting, particularly in the space of leadership and personal growth?
I have been running a company called Ashish Vidyarthi & Associates, under the brand Avid Miner. We design boutique workshops for leaders and individuals, with one core idea—helping people see that more is possible in their lives.
I speak to a wide range of audiences, from educationists and industrialists to high achievers across sectors. The purpose of Avid Miner is to create hope. When people have hope for themselves, they choose to grow, retrain, upskill, and work hard—not as a favour to anyone, but because they want to.
Q: What, according to you, prevents people from growing and moving forward?
Two things stop people from growing—victory and loss. Victory can make you believe you have arrived, while loss can convince you that nothing more is possible. Both can be equally limiting.
I like to talk about the granularity of life. When you break large, intimidating situations into smaller fragments, each step becomes a possibility. Instead of being overawed, you start making a difference, one step at a time.
Q: You often speak about possibility and appreciation. Could you elaborate on that philosophy?
One of the most important abilities a human being can develop is appreciating the opportunities and the magic around them. If you constantly look at life in a nihilistic way, you limit yourself. But when you see life as an opportunity, you begin playing the game of possibility rather than being crushed by probability.
Through my social media and workshops, I try to help people recognise that shift. Over the years, we have worked with more than 250 organisations globally, all centred on this idea of hope and possibility.
Q: Leadership and critical thinking are widely discussed today, especially in education. How do you see their connection?
We tend to overcomplicate these ideas. Imagine a woman running a household who suddenly realises there are no vegetables or lentils at home, yet there is a family to feed. She finds a solution. That is critical thinking. That is leadership.
Everyday necessity is the mother of critical thinking. Ordinary people practise leadership daily without labels or recognition. We complicate these concepts so much that people feel they need experts to think for them. In reality, life itself trains us to think, decide, and act.
Q: So, what is your advice to educators and leaders who want to nurture these skills?
Keep it simple. Look around you. Auto rickshaw drivers, home-makers, workers—everyone is constantly solving problems. Observe life. Awareness is key. People are already living the leadership and critical thinking we talk about in classrooms and boardrooms. We just need to recognise it and learn from it.
Ashish Vidyarthi’s insights remind us that education, leadership, and growth are not confined to institutions or titles. They live in everyday experiences, driven by hope, necessity, and awareness. By simplifying our understanding of success and recognising the wisdom in ordinary lives, he believes individuals can unlock their true potential. At its heart, his message is clear: when people believe in possibility, they naturally choose to grow.
