From VIT to ISB, From Cinema to Padel: Srikanth Sathi’s Journey Beyond the Expected
Hyderabad, September 30, 2026:
Some people follow a path. Some people create one.
Srikanth Sathi’s journey has never been a straight line. It has been shaped by ambition, uncertainty, risk, reinvention and the belief that life can become whatever one is willing to build. From engineering studies at VIT Vellore to earning a place at the Indian School of Business, from co-producing a pan-Indian film to building a fast-growing padel community in Hyderabad, his story reflects the spirit of a new generation of entrepreneurs who refuse to be limited by a single definition of success.
Today, as padel continues to grow rapidly in Hyderabad, Srikanth’s journey has become closely linked with the sport’s rise in the city. What began as a casual game with friends has evolved into a larger mission around fitness, competition, community and sports entrepreneurship.
Padel in Hyderabad: More Than Just a Racquet Sport
Padel is fast becoming much more than a racquet sport in Hyderabad. It is emerging as a blend of fitness, competition and socialising, attracting players across ages, professions and skill levels.
Unlike many traditional racquet sports that can feel intimidating for beginners, padel offers an accessible entry point. Its smaller court format, doubles-based play and enclosed structure make it easy to learn, while still offering enough intensity and strategy to keep competitive players engaged. This balance has helped the sport find strong footing in urban centres, with Hyderabad quickly becoming one of its most enthusiastic markets.
For Srikanth, padel began casually. He started playing with friends, initially treating it as a recreational activity. But the sport quickly became a passion.
“What kept me coming back was the combination of competitiveness, fitness and the sheer amount of fun you can have on a court,” Srikanth told the Deccan Chronicle.
That combination of fitness, fun and social connection has become central to padel’s appeal. It is not only about rallies, scores or technique. It is about the energy on the court, the sense of participation and the relationships that form through the game.
“You can walk onto a court as strangers and walk off feeling like you have made new friends. That, to me, is the magic of padel,” he said.
From VIT to ISB: The First Big Leap
Coming from Hyderabad, Srikanth began his academic journey at VIT Vellore, where he studied engineering. Like many young students, he carried dreams and ambitions. But even then, he was drawn towards films, storytelling, business and the idea of creating something of his own.
He did not necessarily know what that path would look like. But he knew he did not want to live someone else’s definition of success.
After engineering, he set himself an ambitious goal: getting into the Indian School of Business (ISB). It was not an easy journey. He worked relentlessly towards it and eventually scored 750 on the GMAT, earning his place at one of India’s most prestigious business institutions.
For Srikanth, ISB was not simply another qualification. It became a turning point.
During his time at ISB, he went beyond the classroom and took on leadership roles within the community. He served as Director, Alumni Affairs Council, and was also the Lead Coordinator of Solstice, ISB’s alumni fest. His contributions were recognised through the Young Leader Awardee** honour, experiences that strengthened his leadership, communication and ability to bring people together.
ISB exposed him to new people, ideas, businesses and possibilities far beyond what he had earlier imagined. More importantly, it gave him the confidence to believe that there was not just one way to build a successful life.
But even after ISB, there was no perfectly laid-out plan waiting for him. And that uncertainty would become an important part of his story.
The Dream of Cinema Never Disappeared
Films had always held a place in Srikanth’s heart. Instead of remaining only a fan of cinema, he eventually decided to take a bigger step and enter the industry himself.
That journey led him to become a co-producer of “Mysaa”, an upcoming pan-Indian period action-adventure drama starring Rashmika Mandanna in a fierce tribal role.
For someone who had begun his journey as an engineering student in Vellore, entering the world of cinema meant stepping into a completely different universe. There were risks, uncertainties and moments when the easier choice would have been to stay within the boundaries of what was familiar.
But Srikanth had already learned an important lesson:
“If you want an extraordinary life, you cannot always make ordinary decisions.”
For him, Mysaa became more than just a film. It became proof that a dream that once existed only in his mind could eventually take real shape. The film is set for a worldwide theatrical release on November 27, 2026, and will be released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada.
The release marks another major milestone in a journey that began with a young engineering student who simply wanted to create something meaningful.
Then Came Padel: A New Chapter of Building
After cinema, life took another unexpected turn. Srikanth discovered padel. What initially began as a passion quickly became something much bigger.
He saw an opportunity to build a community around the sport and create a brand that could become part of Hyderabad’s growing sporting culture. That vision gave birth to White Horse Padel Club.
Starting from scratch was not easy. There was no guarantee that people would embrace the idea. Building a sports brand meant dealing with players, operations, branding, events, partnerships, competition and countless decisions that nobody sees from the outside.
But Srikanth kept going.
He built the community. He built the brand. He stood firmly behind the vision. Eventually, White Horse entered the Hyderabad Padel League, and the result was a defining moment: White Horse — Season 1 Champions.
The trophy was naturally a moment of celebration. But for Srikanth, it represented something much deeper. It represented the journey from an idea to execution. From imagining something to actually building it. From wondering, “Will this work?” to eventually standing with a championship trophy.
Trophies Are Not the Whole Story
The real story is everything that happened before the visible milestones.
There were periods of uncertainty. Financial pressure. Projects that did not move the way they were supposed to. Decisions that carried real risk. Moments of self-doubt. And moments when the distance between the person he wanted to become and where he actually was felt enormous.
But those moments also became part of the journey.
Success rarely happens in a straight line. Sometimes you move forward. Sometimes you take a step back. Sometimes you completely change direction. And sometimes what looks like a detour at the time turns out to be the beginning of your biggest chapter.
VIT led to ISB. ISB opened new possibilities. A lifelong love for cinema led to Mysaa. A new passion for padel led to White Horse. And White Horse led to a championship.
None of it was perfectly planned. And perhaps that is the point.