Engineering graduate worked as a DJ, reporter and corporate employee to survive. He waited 8 years to make his dream film. What kept this Kannada director going?

For many aspiring filmmakers, the journey to making a first film is rarely straightforward. For Kannada filmmaker Hemanth M. Rao, it took years of waiting, multiple jobs and a shelved project before he finally got the chance to direct his first feature. An engineering graduate, he worked as a DJ, reporter, advertorial writer and corporate employee while trying to keep his connection with writing and filmmaking alive.

Today, Hemanth Rao is known for films such as Godi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, Kavaludaari and Sapta Sagaradaache Ello. He has also worked on the Hindi film Andhadhun. But before finding success, the filmmaker spent years trying to make his first film.

From engineering and journalism to filmmaking

Hemanth Rao did his engineering before exploring different career options. In an earlier interview with TOI, the director opened up about his journey and how he has briefly worked as a journalist and later took up several other jobs, including working as a DJ at a pub, an advertorial writer and in the corporate sector. While these jobs helped him make a living, he continued looking for ways to remain close to stories and cinema.




In 2005, he decided to enter the film industry and began working behind the scenes as an assistant director. During this phase, he got an opportunity to work with filmmakers such as Girish Kasaravalli and Jacob Varghese. His early film journey included associations with projects such as Gulaabi Talkies and Prithvi.

However, getting into the industry did not mean that his own directorial dream came true immediately.

In 2013, Hemanth Rao announced Love Churmuri as his directorial project. The film, however, was eventually shelved. Instead of giving up, he continued working and waiting for another opportunity.

‘I took 8 years to make my first film’

During the Direction Masterclass 2026 on the Student Tribe YouTube channel, Hemanth M Rao opened up about the difficult years before his directorial debut. He said that becoming a filmmaker can be an extremely difficult journey, with some people managing to make their first film within a year while others have to wait much longer.

For Rao, that wait lasted eight years.

He recalled taking up different kinds of jobs during this period simply to survive. There were moments when he could have abandoned the dream altogether, but one thing kept him going.

Hemanth said, "The only reason that kept me going is at least one film I want to do and then, okay. If it doesn't work out, okay. So you have to fight for your dream. Nobody else will fight for it. You have to fight for it. So the thing that you learn most is that how much of a fight you have in you."

The Kannada director also spoke about the reality behind the usual cinematic portrayal of struggle. Films often show a weak character becoming strong through a quick montage, but the actual process of building oneself takes much longer. According to him, aspiring filmmakers have to be prepared for that difficult period.

From Godi Banna to Sapta Sagaradaache Ello

Hemanth Rao finally made his directorial debut in 2016 with Godi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, starring Anant Nag and Rakshit Shetty. The emotional drama followed a son's search for his father, who is living with Alzheimer's disease. The film received strong critical and audience response and established him as a filmmaker to watch in Kannada cinema.

He then directed Kavaludaari, an investigative thriller released in 2019. Rao also expanded his work into Hindi cinema by co-writing Sriram Raghavan's Andhadhun. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Screenplay.

In 2023, Rao returned with Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, a two-part romantic drama starring Rakshit Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth. The film's story was inspired by an incident from Rao's own life, giving the project a personal connection for the filmmaker. The film was praised across the nation. Now, he is working on his next directorial movie is 666 Operation Dream Theatre, a retro 1970s-inspired action spy thriller.

Hemanth Rao's journey from an engineering degree and multiple jobs to becoming an acclaimed filmmaker was not an overnight success story. It took years of uncertainty, a shelved film and several attempts to stay afloat. But the one thing he refused to let go of was the dream of making a film.

And for Hemanth Rao, that was enough reason to keep going.