‘Jayam Ravi sir did it for me, I wanted to do the same for this guy…’ Pradeep Ranganathan on Dude

Tamil filmmaker Pradeep Ranganathan, known for his hits Comali (2019) and Love Today (2022), opened up about the surprising choices he made behind the scenes of his early success. From secretly quitting his IT job to returning a luxury gift, Pradeep’s journey shows that creativity often comes with sacrifices.

Pradeep Ranganathan, the filmmaker-turned-actor known for hits like Comali and Love Today, opened up about the trust and inspiration behind his latest project Dude. Reflecting on his journey, he revealed how support from peers shaped his decisions: “Jayam Ravi sir believed me when I started, and that faith meant everything,” he said. “So when Keerthiswaran came to me with Dude, I wanted to do the same for him. I wanted to give him the belief and space to create, just like I was given.”

After Comali became a hit, Pradeep was gifted a luxury car by producer Ishari K. Ganesh as a token of appreciation. But instead of keeping it, he returned the car. Explaining the decision, he told The Hollywood Reporter India, “After Comali, I was gifted a car, but I returned it. I didn’t even have money to put fuel in it back then. So, instead, I requested them to give me the equivalent of it in cash and I used that money to survive the next three years and meet my basic requirements.”

This revelation sheds light on the real struggles behind creative success. While most stars would have flaunted a luxury vehicle, Pradeep chose practicality over showmanship, prioritising his creative freedom.

He also reflected on his early career risks, revealing a secret that would have surprised many: “I secretly quit my IT job and didn’t tell my father for one and a half years. I pretended to work night shifts while I started making films.”

For Pradeep, acting and directing bring different forms of satisfaction. He explained, “Acting gives me daily recognition and happiness. Directing only gives a short burst of joy during release.”

Despite his growing fame, the filmmaker remains grounded in his money mindset. He continues to use a five-year-old iPhone and is careful about spending on himself. “People would find it surprising the way I spend. They think I have a lot of money, but I spend less. I still worry about staining a white shirt,” he confessed.

Pradeep’s upcoming film, Dude, set to release on October 17, marks another exciting chapter in his career. He will also be seen in Vignesh Shivan’s Love Insurance Kompany alongside Krithi Shetty and S.J. Suryah.

With his honesty, humility, and relentless focus on creativity, Pradeep Ranganathan continues to inspire fans across Tamil cinema. As he himself says, “If I wanted money, I could have started shooting the next film immediately, but it is more about creative satisfaction for me.”