Five techies who quit their 9-to-5 jobs at Infosys to become famous actors: Nivin Pauly to Taapsee Pannu

For many, a stable corporate job is the ultimate goal. But for some, it’s just the beginning of a bigger dream. While working in offices and writing code, these individuals quietly held on to a passion for acting. At some point, they made a bold choice, to walk away from secure careers and step into the unpredictable world of films. Today, their journeys stand as inspiring examples of following one’s heart.

Nivin Pauly

Before becoming a popular face in Malayalam cinema, Nivin worked as a software engineer at Infosys in Bengaluru from 2006 to 2008. Despite having a stable job after completing his engineering degree, he began to feel disconnected from his work. In an interview with The Hindu, Nivin shared that he eventually lost interest in his job and decided to quit.

He recalled that he and his friends wanted to make it big in films, and things changed when he auditioned for Malarvaadi Arts Club. Getting selected for the film marked the beginning of his acting journey and opened doors to the industry. Today, Nivin Pauly is among the top-paid actors in the Malayalam film industry. With several projects in the pipeline, including Dear Students, Shekhara Varma Rajavu, and a possible sequel to Action Hero Biju, he remains actively involved as both an actor and producer.




Taapsee Pannu

A similar leap of faith was taken by Taapsee Pannu. Interestingly, Taapsee didn’t always plan to become an actor. She turned down a lucrative job offer from Infosys to take up a role in a Telugu film instead. In an interview with Filmfare, she revealed that her initial goal was simply to earn extra money, not to build a career in acting.

However, that one decision changed everything. From moving out of Delhi to settling in Hyderabad during her early years, Taapsee slowly built a career by choosing unconventional roles and scripts that set her apart. She was recently seen in Anubhav Sinha's courtroom drama, which will start streaming on Zee5 from April 17.

Dhananjaya

Kannada actor Dhananjaya, popularly known as Daali, also chose passion over stability. After completing his engineering degree, he joined Infosys but realised that his heart was always in theatre and films. In an interview with The Times of India, he shared that he could not imagine spending his life as a tech professional.

He quit his job within a year and committed himself fully to acting. His decision paid off when he made his debut with Director’s Special (2013), which brought him recognition and more opportunities in the industry.

"My mind was always on stage and films. My father was also in theatre and I could not imagine myself being a techie for the rest of my life. I quit within a year and became a full-time actor. I met Guruprasad in Mysore and he cast me in Director's Special. I have never felt my decision to quit Information technology was wrong. I knew it would take time to establish myself as an actor. I was ready to invest my time. After all, time and efforts are my only investment," he said.

Meanwhile, on the work front, actor-producer is all set to enter the OTT space with his new series Jerax, a fantasy-comedy thriller that will stream on ZEE5 Kannada from April 24. The series is produced under his banner Daali Pictures.



Nithya Shetty

For this South actress, the decision was about choosing focus. After completing her studies and working at Infosys, she realised that balancing a corporate job and acting was not possible. In a 2016 interview with Deccan Chronicle, she explained that her mind was completely set on acting, which led her to resign from her job. Nithya had already been a child artist in Telugu cinema before taking a break for her education. Once she returned, she continued working in films like Padesave and other regional projects.

Basil Joseph

He is a renowned Malayalam actor and filmmaker. Before joining the industry, Basil Joseph worked as a software engineer at Infosys in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, for two years after his B.Tech. During this time, he made short films, showcasing his storytelling skills. He later quit his job to enter films. Basil is now preparing for his upcoming release, Athiradi, in May 2026.


What connects all these stories is the courage to take risks. Leaving a secure job at a company like Infosys is not an easy decision, especially when the future is uncertain. Yet, each of these actors chose to trust their passion and take that leap.