The next in the monthly series by WWF-India that highlights niche and unconventional green careers through the stories of well-known personalities from the field of environment and conservation

A few months ago, I found myself in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, filming a family of mountain gorillas. As we watched, a young gorilla suddenly puffed out his chest and enthusiastically mimicked the dominant silverback nearby. The moment was both hilarious and strangely familiar. Gorillas share much of our DNA, and watching their family dynamics unfold felt like looking into a mirror of our own lives. Experiences like these are the reason I love what I do.

As a filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and CEO of Untamed Planet, I spend my days telling stories about people, wildlife, and the environmental challenges shaping our future. However, my journey began long before I ever picked up a professional camera.

Growing up in Goa, I was the child who was always outside, spending hours looking for snakes in the Western Ghats, diving and windsurfing in the ocean, and rescuing animals whenever I could. In parallel, I was fascinated by journalism, documentaries, and the power of storytelling. Looking back, those interests seemed unrelated. Today, they define my career.

One of the biggest influences on my path came when I met renowned wildlife filmmaker Mike Pandey at the age of 14. Learning about the impact his films had on conservation and policy opened my eyes to the possibility that storytelling could do far more than entertain. It could inspire action. Instead of following a traditional route into the profession, I skipped college and entered the workforce early, right after school. I made short films, worked at production companies, and learnt from people with far more experience than me. It was not always easy, but it taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: opportunities rarely arrive when you feel completely ready for them.

Varied experiences

Today, no two weeks look the same. In the span of just a few days, I might be filming lion conservation efforts with Maasai communities in Kenya, consulting on storytelling strategy at Princeton University, the U.S., and working on post-production for a documentary in New York. Fieldwork often begins before sunrise and ends after sunset. Capturing wildlife behaviour requires patience, resilience, and a willingness to wait for hours for a single moment that may last only seconds.

What keeps me motivated is the impact stories can create. Whether a film helps audiences connect with a species they had never heard of before, shines a spotlight on an overlooked issue, or brings together scientists, policymakers, and communities around a shared challenge, those moments remind me why storytelling matters.

Along the way, I have also learnt that environmental storytelling is ultimately about people. Through my work, I have had the privilege of learning from indigenous leaders, scientists, farmers, conservationists, and local communities around the world. Their experiences have guided how I think about conservation. Protecting Nature is not separate from protecting people. Healthy ecosystems support livelihoods, strengthen public health, reduce the impacts of disasters, and help build more resilient communities.

If there is one piece of advice I would share with young people, it is to follow your curiosity. Read widely, build practical skills, seek out mentors, and do not wait for permission to begin. Careers are rarely linear. Many of the opportunities that transformed my life came from saying yes before I felt fully prepared. Sometimes, taking that first step is all it takes to discover a path you never knew existed.