Breaking the Code: Ben Rekhi's Film Uncovers His Father's Untold Silicon Valley Story

Filmmaker Ben Rekhi has turned the camera on his own family, directing "Breaking the Code," an 80 minute documentary that traces the extraordinary life of his father, Kanwal Rekhi, from a modest childhood in newly independent India to becoming the godfather of Silicon Valley's Indian tech ecosystem.

Kanwal Rekhi made history in 1987 as the first Indian American founder and CEO to take a venture backed company public on the NASDAQ, a milestone that opened doors for generations of South Asian entrepreneurs in the United States. He later co founded TiE, the global network for Indian entrepreneurs, and personally mentored and backed more than 200 startups over his career.

Ben co directed the CAAM funded film alongside Swetlana, and the documentary also lifts the curtain on the family's private struggles, including his mother's battle with lymphatic cancer, which began shortly after his parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

The film is set to have its Bay Area premiere at CAAMFest 2026, where it serves as the Opening Gala selection. Ben has spoken openly about treating filmmaking as entrepreneurship, a philosophy shaped entirely by his father's towering legacy.

 

 

 

 

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