Watch: Director’s 20 Year Battle Behind Deewana!

While Divana is slowly winning hearts with decent word of mouth, the story behind the film is turning out to be just as inspiring. Director Srikanth Sangeeshetti sat with Gulte’s Ram Venkat Srikar and revealed that the journey to make this film was not a matter of a few years but a struggle that stretched across nearly two decades.

Like many aspiring filmmakers, Srikanth entered the industry with dreams and confidence. But reality hit hard. Meetings were difficult to get, scripts were ignored and opportunities rarely came his way. He admitted that there were phases when he questioned himself but never completely gave up on cinema.

To support his family and continue chasing his dream, he worked in corporate jobs for several years. Even while employed, he kept writing, networking and pitching stories. The balancing act between career responsibilities and filmmaking ambitions became a major part of his life.

What makes his story stand out is the persistence. Despite repeated rejections and long periods without progress, he continued refining his craft. Srikanth believes passion alone is not enough and that clarity about one’s strengths is equally important in surviving such a demanding industry.

That long wait eventually resulted in Divana, a film he describes as deeply personal and emotionally honest. Many of the film’s themes, struggles and emotions are rooted in real life observations gathered over years of experience and disappointment.

Today, with audiences appreciating Divana and praising its authenticity, Srikanth finally has the closure he chased for years. His journey serves as a reminder that in cinema, success may arrive late, but perseverance often becomes the biggest story of all.