‘Love Today’ Star Pradeep Ranganathan Breaks Indian Industry Molds With ‘Dragon’: ‘Anything Is Possible in Life’

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Rising Tamil-language cinema talent Pradeep Ranganathan, who made waves with his director-actor double act in “Love Today,” is challenging industry conventions with his latest venture “Dragon,” where he steps fully into the spotlight as a lead actor under the direction of longtime collaborator Ashwath Marimuthu (“Oh My Kadavule”).

The transition from behind the camera wasn’t entirely unplanned, but rather the culmination of a journey that began in his student filmmaking days. “It started from my short film days,” Ranganathan tells Variety. “When I directed my first short film with another actor, everyone in college came and spoke to him.

I would be standing just beside him, but no one knew I was the director. All these people would come and talk to him, and when everyone leaves, he’d say ‘Sorry you were here, I’ll introduce them to you.’ I’d say ‘No need, it’ll be very bad if you call them again.'” Fate intervened during his second short film when the lead actor dropped out due to exams. “I had no other choice but to act in it because I had spent money on it and couldn’t afford to lose it,” he explains. “Once I did that short film, I loved the recognition as an actor.

I started liking the recognition and love people showed to an actor.” This early taste of performing led to a calculated career strategy. “I chose to direct my first feature film [2019’s ‘Comali’] because I knew no one would produce a film with me debuting as an actor.