Famous director and CA Shekhar Kapur predicts bold AI future for education: ‘Everyone will be their own CEO'

Time of India

17-07-2025

What began as a scenic drive from Delhi to Mussoorie turned into a deep reflection on India's education system for Shekhar Kapur—acclaimed filmmaker, global thought leader, and a Chartered Accountant by training. As his car cruised along winding Himalayan roads, what caught his eye wasn't the mist or mountains, but the proliferation of coaching centre signboards, often perched above roadside restaurants.
In a now-viral tweet, Kapur painted a poignant image of the coaching class industry—India's informal, unregulated parallel education system, reportedly worth over $25 billion. 'Parents, middle and lower class, desperately need their kids to have some certificate that proves they have some education,' Kapur wrote. But in a single breath, he pivoted to a bold idea that's causing ripples online: AI, he suggests, will soon redefine the very essence of jobs, education, and recruitment.
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— shekharkapur (@shekharkapur)
The AI Disruption That Awaits
Known for challenging convention through cinema—from
Masoom
to
Bandit Queen
—Kapur is now turning his lens toward a different kind of storytelling: one that is shaping the
future of work
. His assertion? Artificial Intelligence will soon make traditional certifications, and by extension the institutions that thrive on them, redundant. 'AI can give you the same education at home, and much cheaper,' Kapur tweeted, alluding to the limitless access to knowledge that generative AI platforms offer today.
But the problem, as he rightly points out, is that AI doesn't yet hand out certificates. And in a job market heavily reliant on paperwork and formality, that's still a barrier to entry. However, Kapur believes this is a temporary obstacle.
'AI will soon not only change the nature of recruitment, but also the nature of the job,' he wrote. In an era where
digital portfolios
, skill assessments, and online testing can prove one's mettle better than a printed certificate, his vision doesn't seem far-fetched.
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Everyone Their Own CEO
In one of the most stirring lines of his thread, Kapur declared, 'We are heading to a time where everyone will be their own CEO.' For a generation bogged down by a rigid exam system and coached conformity, this idea feels revolutionary. The statement challenges not just India's education model, but its societal perceptions of success and self-worth.
The response to his musings has been passionate. One user wrote, 'AI can give information but not education,' while another criticized
coaching centres
as profit-making machines preying on vulnerable students. These varied opinions echo a shared anxiety—and curiosity—about the future Kapur has dared to sketch.
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