When the world’s most influential AI architect met India’s leading new-age entrepreneur, Director of Photography Vedant Chavan was the one ensuring the world saw it clearly.
On August 14, 2025, the People by WTF episode featuring Sam Altman premiered, instantly dominating social media feeds and business circles alike. While the millions of viewers were tuned in for the high-level discourse between Altman and host Nikhil Kamath, the production itself was a masterclass in invisible craftsmanship. At the helm of the visual strategy was Director of Photography Vedant Chavan—a choice that had less to do with flashy aesthetics and everything to do with trust.
Earned Trust Over “Cinematic” Flair
For a production of this caliber, the primary requirement for a cinematographer isn’t just an artistic eye; it is reliability. When Nikhil Kamath’s team looked for someone to lens a conversation of this magnitude, they didn’t just need a cameraman; they needed a failsafe.
Chavan’s reputation is built on the unglamorous but critical pillars of production: exhaustive preparation and risk mitigation. Long before the talent arrived, Chavan was already deep in the
pre-production phase, scouting the location to map out every variable. His approach is defined by a simple philosophy: the DP’s job is to solve problems before they exist. On the day of the shoot, Chavan was on set hours before the call time, testing redundancies and ensuring the lighting complemented the gravity of the room without becoming intrusive.
“In a room like that, you don’t get a second take,” is the standard Chavan operates by. His role was to create a technical environment so stable that the technology disappeared, allowing Kamath and Altman to speak without distraction.
Witnessing the AI Revolution from the Front Row
For Chavan, the shoot was more than a professional milestone; it was a front-row seat to history. While operating the camera, he found himself listening to Sam Altman dismantle the future of artificial intelligence in real-time.
There is a distinct difference between reading headlines about the “AI Revolution” and hearing the architect of that revolution speak about it in person. Chavan witnessed the raw, unedited energy of the room as Altman discussed the implications of GPT-5, the shift toward agentic workflows, and the massive opportunity awaiting India’s young entrepreneurs. He captured the adults-in-the-room moments—the heavy pauses and thoughtful articulation that often get lost in written transcripts. It was Chavan’s responsibility to ensure that these historical nuances were preserved with absolute fidelity.
A Conversation That Broke the Internet
The immediate viral success of the episode—crossing a million views in days—was a testament to Nikhil Kamath’s immense influence in the global business ecosystem. The anticipation surrounding the episode was palpable, and the delivery matched the hype.
For the audience, the experience was seamless. They felt the intimacy of the conversation and the weight of the topics, unaware of the rigorous technical orchestration occurring just out of frame. For Vedant Chavan, the project was a quiet victory. It demonstrated that in the world of high-stakes media, the best visual storytelling is the kind that respects the subject enough to get everything right, long before the record button is pressed.
Watch the full episode here:
