Kiccha Sudeep, Kartik Aaryan to Kriti Sanon: Actors who chose acting as a career over engineering

The sparkle of Bollywood often hides unexpected beginnings. While several stars have played countless roles on screen, very few know that some of them were engineers before making it big in films. They traded blueprints for scripts, eventually becoming household names in the entertainment industry. Here’s a look at the actors who left engineering behind to pursue their dreams in showbiz.

Kiccha Sudeep

Renowned Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep holds a degree in Industrial and Production Engineering from Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru. Though well-grounded in academics, it was his passion for acting that ultimately defined his career.

Kartik Aaryan

Born into a family of doctors, Kartik Aaryan managed to balance his academic journey with his acting aspirations. After finishing school in Gwalior, he chose to study biotechnology engineering in Navi Mumbai. While pursuing his degree, he continued to chase his dream of becoming an actor, eventually signing up for an acting course to hone his skills. In January 2025, Kartik Aaryan received his degree during the convocation ceremony at D Y Patil University in Mumbai, almost a decade after he initially enrolled in the course.

Vicky Kaushal

From a grounded upbringing to the glitz of Bollywood, Vicky Kaushal’s rise has been remarkable. Though he pursued Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology in Mumbai, his heart was always in cinema. Vicky started his showbiz journey as an Assistant Director before making his powerful debut in Masaan (2015). With films like Uri, Sardar Udham Singh, Sam Bahadur and Chhava, Vicky has firmly established himself as one of the leading stars in Indian cinema.

Kriti Sanon

Before stepping into the world of cinema, Kriti Sanon earned a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida. She later made a remarkable entry into Bollywood with her debut film Heropanti.

Taapsee Pannu

Taapsee Pannu graduated in Computer Science Engineering from Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology in New Delhi and initially worked as a Software Engineer. Her journey into the entertainment world began with an audition for Channel V. In 2010, she made her acting debut in the Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam.

R Madhavan

R. Madhavan, famously known for portraying an engineering student in 3 Idiots, is an engineer in real life as well. He holds a degree in Electronics from Rajaram College in Kolhapur. Driven by a passion for acting, he made his way into the entertainment industry and has been captivating audiences for over two decades.

Avinash Tiwary

Avinash Tiwary completed his schooling at D.P.Y.A. High School and began pursuing engineering in Mumbai. However, he left the course in his fourth semester to follow his passion for acting and joined the theatre circuit. He trained at Barry John’s Acting Studio and later furthered his craft at the New York Film Academy. His decision to pursue acting has proven successful, with notable roles in Laila Majnu, Madgaon Express, The Mehta Boys and others.