“I grew up in a house that never went quiet. Thirty-five of us—cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunts—all under one roof in Hyderabad. It was loud, messy, and full of life. Most of my family were engineers or worked in tech. Nobody came from an artistic background, but they had something else: strong emotional bonds, big celebrations, and small everyday moments that felt like stories waiting to be noticed.

At around 12, my dad gifted me a Canon PowerShot. That small camera became my best friend. I started taking photos of everything, birthday parties, lazy Sunday mornings, the usual chaos of family life. Slowly, people began asking me for prints. It was the first time I felt recognised, like what I saw through my lens mattered. My parents and sister saw it too. They believed in me before I even had the words to believe in myself. They supported me, buying gear, watching me edit late into the night, encouraging me to follow a path that was still taking shape.

After school, I co-founded “1804,” a wedding photography and film company. Weddings were the best kind of training in storytelling. I learned to read people quickly, catch real, unscripted emotions, and work fast in high-pressure moments. I began to understand how light and timing could shape a feeling. I wasn’t just covering events, I was capturing what they meant. That experience taught me more than any classroom ever could.

But after a few years, I wanted to dig deeper. I wanted more control over the way a story looked and felt. I wanted to move from simply recording life to shaping how it was shown. That’s when I decided to study Film & Media. It was a big step. I hadn’t even been to a proper theatre before film school. But I went in curious and ready.

In film school, I learned to speak in visuals. Framing became my language. Light became emotion. Timing turned into a kind of character. I worked on short films and indie sets, slowly figuring out my voice as a cinematographer.

Then came one of the most defining moments of my life, meeting Venkat Anna (Venkat R. Shakamuri). He became more than a mentor. He became a guide. Under him, I learned how to lead a crew, build a scene with purpose, and light in a way that made people feel something. He taught me that cinematography isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling honest. He pushed me to think deeper, shoot with intention, and always stay curious.

With that momentum, I moved to Los Angeles to study at the New York Film Academy. It was a big change: new place, new culture, new hurdles. I began working on music videos, short films, and commercials. That’s where I really honed my grip on tone, style, and visual texture. I learned to adjust quickly and tell stories that could connect with people, no matter where they were from.

So far, I’ve worked as the Director of Photography on three feature films, along with several music videos in the U.S. One of those films, an Indian feature that hasn’t released yet, is especially close to my heart. I used natural light and a close, personal shooting style to bring cultural stories to life. Right now, I’m in pre-production for another feature, working closely with the director from the script stage to build the visual journey from the ground up.

Each project teaches me something new, how to work with different personalities, how to express emotion through light, and how to always put the story first.

But it hasn’t always been easy. Leaving a growing business in India, starting from scratch in a new country, and entering a tough industry was emotionally and financially challenging. There were times I doubted myself. Times I questioned my decisions. But I’ve learned that fear loses its grip when you’re prepared. I relied on what I knew, drawing storyboards, testing lenses, building honest relationships with directors. I’ve come to see that creativity isn’t just some spark. It’s something you build with patience and consistency.

If you’re just starting out, here’s what I’ve learned so far. Start small and start now. You don’t need fancy gear to tell a good story. Find mentors and hold on to them. They’ll see parts of you that you can’t yet. Be professional. Show up on time. Be kind. Stay prepared. People remember how you make them feel. Don’t run from your roots, they’re your strength. Growing up in a joint family taught me how to sense emotion, how to move with rhythm, and how to find meaning in the everyday.

And finally, keep growing. Every project, big or small, is a chance to move forward.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that a kid taking birthday photos in a crowded Hyderabad home would end up working on feature films across continents. But that’s the beauty of stories. They find their way. And I’ve come to believe that cinema isn’t just about light and shadow. It’s memory. It’s feeling. It’s truth. And in every frame, my goal is to honour that truth.”