Gujarati cinema has entered a success phase this year as the devotional drama film ‘Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate’ has officially surpassed the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office. Actor Karan Joshi publicly shared the milestone on Instagram, calling it a massive victory for everyone involved. But behind this phenomenal success lies the deeply inspiring journey of the film’s director, Ankit Sakhiya.
From a small rural childhood to a big dream
As reported by Gujarati Jagran, Ankit Sakhiya’s journey began in Meta Khambhaliya, a modest village near Gondal. In his childhood, even watching a movie was a challenge. As it required him to travel 30–35 km to Gondal. His fascination for filmmaking showed early. People around him mocked the ambition.During school vacations, Ankit visited Surat, where he played ghughra in a gaushala band to entertain people. This was something society looked down on because of his family’s respected background. Yet these moments silently fueled his creative passion.
Education, clarity of purpose and the early steps
Ankit studied in a Gurukul. He learned editing by the 8th standard, and participated in stage plays. Though he later pursued a diploma and then a degree in Civil Engineering, life never distracted him from cinema. He once told his professor firmly that he would not build buildings, because he knew he was born to make films. His filmmaking journey truly began in Vidyanagar, where he and friends made short films using only mobile phones.
Turning struggle into cinema
When producers refused to fund his high-budget scripts, doubting whether a 25-26-year-old could lead such grand projects, Ankit decided to take a different route. He set out to make a strong, meaningful and high-quality film on a modest budget and that effort resulted in ‘Laalo’. The film is now rewriting Gujarati cinema history with its Rs 100 crore blockbuster success.
