Speaking about his reserved nature, Shouryuv confesses that cinema became his medium of escape. He says, “Whenever I watch a movie, I get into it. I’m very introverted. So, cinema is the one that taught me everything – about places, behaviour, world events, crime and others.” Shouryuv also candidly shares his foray into the world of filmmaking under the mentorship of Vijayendra Prasad, the acclaimed storyteller behind RRR, Bahubali, and Bajarangi Bhaijaan. “Whenever I’d go and explain to him a thought of mine, he’d ask me, ‘That’s alright, but what is your story?’ That’s how I learnt the importance of understanding what my story is about.”
As the conversation steers toward his favourite filmmakers, Shouryuv mentions luminaries like Rajamouli, Quentin Tarantino, and Guy Ritchie. He says, “Everyone likes Rajamouli. We can’t start a list without his name.” When asked about life-defining movies, he says, “I can’t choose one because there are so many movies and it’s about the experience.” The director further cites influences ranging from anime and Shawshank Redemption to Shankar’s Gentleman and Pokiri. For him, watching films from various corners of the world is not merely an academic exercise. “I don’t call it a phase. Because I’m still living it, I’ve been doing that my entire life. I applaud every movie that touches my heart and it becomes a part of my memory; I want to make a movie like that.”