Nitesh Tiwari shares his journey from IIT to filmmaking on Game Changers podcast, says "when I was doing my degree at IIT Bombay..."

Nitesh Tiwari, one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers, is renowned for his unique storytelling that seamlessly blends humour, light-hearted moments, and compelling narratives. His journey from an IIT engineer to a distinguished director is truly inspiring. In a recent interview with Komal Nahta on the Game Changers podcast, Tiwari shared insights into the origins of his distinctive approach.

Reflecting on his engineering days, he revealed how his creative inclinations took shape during his time at IIT Bombay. "I wouldn't say since childhood, sir, but when I was doing my degree at IIT Bombay, I was quite inclined towards the creative field. And there I saw that there were a lot of competitions in every hostel, and there was a lot of effort to do something original, something different. Even the pranks, which we call pranks, those pranks also had originality. So then I felt that there is fun in this, what is being done is unexpected."

His passion for originality found expression in his writing. "So somewhere I started writing. So that thing remained in my writing during my IIT days also, that when I used to write plays or one-act or mono-acting pieces, I used to try to write something original, to do something different. I think that stayed with me."

When asked if he ever considered filmmaking as a career while studying engineering, Tiwari admitted, "No sir, I never thought. There was a desire to become a writer, and while studying, the desire to become a writer arose. I didn't know if I had this capability. You know, sir, when you are deciding for a career, you genuinely don't know where your passion is."