Actor and filmmaker Rahul Ravindran found himself trending among cinegoers this week after sharp-eyed fans spotted him beside Prakash Raj in the OG trailer. Confirming the speculation, he took to social media with a candid note about his part in Sujeeth’s gangster action drama.

“Haha, getting a lot of these tweets. Yes, that’s me. I’ve done what was initially a very interesting role but had to [be] chopped down quite a bit,” he admitted, “But it was an absolute pleasure watching Jeethu (Sujeeth) at work from close quarters. Especially observing and learning from how he crafts his visuals. What a bomb trailer! Can’t wait for the release!”

When one fan expressed disappointment at his reduced presence in the final cut, Rahul responded with composure, “Oh directors gotta do whatever it takes to make the film better bro. That’s the most important thing. It’s a good thing. And often there are many factors that go into such decisions. It’s very understandable.”

The exchanges struck a chord with many for the way Rahul reflected the collaborative, sometimes sacrificial nature of filmmaking. Rahul is currently shaping Rashmika Mandanna starrer The Girlfriend. 

They Call Him OG, directed by Sujeeth, thrusts Pawan Kalyan into the blood-soaked world of 1980s Bombay as Ojas Gambheera, a gangster returning from exile to take on crime lord Omi Bhau, played by Emraan Hashmi in his Telugu debut. Priyanka Mohan plays Kanmani, while the ensemble also features Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy and Arjun Das.

Backed by DVV Entertainment with a technical team that includes Ravi K Chandran and Manoj Paramahamsa behind the camera, Thaman S on the score, and Navin Nooli on the edit, OG is among the year’s most awaited. Paid premieres are slated for September 24, with the worldwide release following on September 25.