From the first draft to the final frame, my films are a reflection of my philosophy: Rahul Sankrityan

From working as a software engineer at an IT company to sitting in the director’s chair, Rahul Sankrityan’s journey has been marked by risk, resilience, and an unshakable love for storytelling. With films like The End, Taxiwaala and Shyam Singha Roy to his credit, Rahul sits down with Hyderabad Times to talk about his roots, the accident that changed his life, the challenges of breaking into cinema, and his upcoming historical drama with Vijay Deverakonda.

‘I stayed close to cinema in every way I could’Hailing from Rayalaseema, with roots in Kurnool and Anantapur, Rahul’s love for films and history is deeply tied to his hometown. “I grew up watching films with my brother and was captivated by the fantasy cinema offered. My love for history comes from Rayalaseema, a region rich in culture and heritage,” he says.While working as a software engineer at an IT company in Hyderabad, Rahul stayed connected to films.

“I chose Hyderabad so I could be closer to the industry. At work, I started a film club called 24 Frames. We made short films, screened movies, and had endless discussions. It kept my dream alive, even when my break into the industry as a writer or Assistant Director didn’t work out at first,” he recalls.‘My accident changed everything’In 2013, while rushing from work to a film shoot, Rahul met with a serious accident near Jubilee Hills Check Post.

“That moment changed everything. It was a revelation,” he says. Until then, the security of a corporate job kept him from taking the leap, but the incident shifted his perspective. “Lying there with a broken leg, I realised we get only one life. I needed to pursue what truly mattered. That’s when I resigned and committed to filmmaking full-time.

” opportunities and would love to do more.‘Producers often asked me, is this even a film?’Leaving his corporate career behind, Rahul quickly faced the realities of the film industry.

“Despite fully committing to filmmaking, many of my ideas were met with skepticism. Producers often asked me, ‘Are you serious? Is this even a film? Who would watch a story like this?’,” he recalls.Undeterred, he decided to back himself. “I produced my first film, The End, with my own money because I believed in the story. I didn’t want to wait for someone else to give me a chance,” he says. The gamble paid off. “When it was well-received, it gave me the confidence that my instincts were right, and it opened the door for Taxiwaala.

That was the turning point where I knew this is where I belong.”

‘My next film with Vijay is based on real history’Rahul’s second collaboration with Vijay Deverakonda after Taxiwaala is set in the Telugu regions under the Madras Presidency between the 1850s and 1870s. “It’s not mythological, but it has mystical elements and is rooted in real history —combining colonial-era settings with village cults. There’s also a supernatural element, a signature in my films, but this one will surprise audiences.

Both Vijay and I are in different, more responsible spaces now, and this story reflects that growth.

” he reveals.

‘Travel shapes & inspires my storytelling’Travel has been a key source of creative inspiration for Rahul, influencing both his writing and his life philosophy. “In Shyam Singha Roy, there’s a line I love: you can do anything in one of two ways, either with love or with fear. I believe all negativity comes from fear, while positivity comes from love. It’s our choice which path to take. These insights have come from my experiences travelling and seeing how people live differently.

They make their way into my scripts, whether I’m exploring history, fantasy, or contemporary themes,” he says.- Divya Shree