For Priya Chouti, a career in visual effects was never part of the plan. It grew out of a curiosity sparked on a film set, one that would eventually take her from Kannada cinema to major international productions.
Priya's introduction to cinema came with a blink-and-miss appearance in the 2017 Kannada film Noorondu Nenapu, starring Meghana Raj Sarja and Chetan. Though brief, the experience gave her a glimpse into the world of filmmaking and sparked a curiosity about the work that happens behind the camera.
“Being on a film set made me curious about how stories are created visually,” she says. “I wanted to understand the process beyond what audiences see on screen.”
That curiosity led her into the world of visual effects. Working with artists and production teams, she learned the complexities of VFX while contributing to films such as KGF, Yajamana and Race 3.
“Every project teaches you something new,” she says. “The more I worked in VFX, the more I realised how much collaboration goes into creating what audiences eventually see.”
Over the years, Priya moved into leadership roles and eventually became a Visual Effects Supervisor. Her credits now include 777 Charlie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, The Garfield Movie, Angry Birds 3 and Under the Boardwalk.
As a supervisor, she works across departments, from animation and lighting to compositing and simulation, ensuring that the filmmakers' vision remains intact.
“Visual effects is where creativity and technology meet,” she says. “Every project presents unique challenges, and success comes from collaboration, precision and a shared commitment to storytelling.”
Her journey has also mirrored the increasingly global nature of filmmaking, with artists and technicians across countries working together on the same production.
“Filmmaking today is truly global,” she says. “People from different backgrounds bring their skills and perspectives together to create something audiences can connect with.”
Despite the scale of the projects she now works on, Priya believes the fundamentals remain unchanged.
“Technology is important, but storytelling comes first,” she says. “Visual effects should support the story, not distract from it.”
Looking back, Priya sees her career as the result of staying open to new opportunities and continuously learning.
“I never imagined I would move from acting into visual effects and work on international films,” she says. “But every step taught me something valuable.”
From a brief appearance in Noorondu Nenapu to working on some of the industry's biggest productions, Priya's journey has been shaped by curiosity as much as ambition. And that, she says, remains her biggest motivation. “The learning never stops. That's what keeps the journey exciting.”