Rajkummar Rao is portraying Srikanth Bolla in a biopic, the man who faced rejection from top Indian institutes due to his blindness. Ultimately, Srikanth went on to study business management science at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). read more
Srikanth Bolla hails from Seetharamapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Machilipatnam district, born into a family of rice farmers. Despite being a bright student, he was initially turned down by Indian schools for his blindness. However, he defied the odds and was later accepted at MIT in the US, becoming the first international blind student to receive full financial aid.
An inspirational biopic is in the works, with actor Rajkummar Rao taking on the role of Srikanth. The film showcases his struggles as a visually impaired boy in school, in his village, and later in college.
Hurdles faced by Srikanth Bolla
Srikanth had to fight against the norms of his school, which initially refused him education in science and math due to state regulations. Despite the challenges, he persisted and eventually won the right for blind students to study science in Andhra Pradesh.
His struggles continued as he was denied coaching for IIT in India. Undeterred, he applied to universities in the US and was accepted by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Srikanth also excelled in cricket and chess at the national level.
Upon completing his education, Srikanth returned to Hyderabad in 2012 to establish Bollant Industries, a company that produces eco-friendly products and employs individuals with disabilities. His dedication and qualifications have earned him recognition, including being named in the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders 2021 list.
