He quit Tech Mahindra to follow cinema; debut film earned Rs 40 crore

Former Tech Mahindra network engineer Sai Marthand has emerged as one of Telugu cinema’s breakout directors after his debut film Little Hearts became a surprise box office success in 2025. In a resurfaced Instagram post, he humorously recalled watching films and filmmaker interviews during his work-from-home days before quitting in 2023 to pursue filmmaking. The film’s success earned him industry recognition, and he is now preparing his next project with actor Adivi Sesh.