Pradeep Ranganathan is currently busy promoting his upcoming film, Dude, helmed by debutant director Keertiswaran. Also starring Mamitha Baiju, the film is gearing up for release on Deepavali. Recently, the actor spoke to The Hollywood Reporter India, in which he opened up about his craze for veteran actor Rajinikanth.
Going back to his college days, Pradeep recalled the times when he would prioritise a Rajinikanth movie FDFS over examinations. "When Lingaa was released, I had a college exam the next day, but that didn’t stop me. I went for the 12 am show, poured milk on his banner, and celebrated like every other fan. There are still videos of me climbing the cutout and pouring milk—it’s all on my old Facebook page. In the film’s climax, there’s a bike scene that was clearly done by a stunt double. But in my mind, I convinced myself it was Rajini sir, and when I rode my own bike back home after the show, I did it with the same energy—feeling like him," he said, adding that he even went for the first show of the actor's latest film, Coolie.
"For Kochadaiyaan, I had an exam that afternoon, but I still made sure to catch the 11 am show. I don’t think I’ll ever miss a Rajini sir FDFS, no matter what," he added.
So naturally, as a fan, Pradeep's biggest milestone was receiving praise from Rajinikanth after Love Today and Dragon. When asked about his response on receiving compliments from his favourite star, Pradeep said, "I didn’t say anything when he praised me because he must’ve heard the same line from so many people—crores of times, in fact. “I’m your biggest fan” is something he’s been told countless times over the past fifty years. I’m sure he would’ve responded in his usual sweet way, but deep down, I knew how he must’ve felt. For him, it’s just another day, and I’m just another person saying the same thing. So, it wasn’t about what I said that mattered; it was about what I felt in that moment."
But the compliment and his meeting with Rajinikanth gave him his life's biggest achievement and motivation. "Life is so unpredictable. I never thought I’d even get to experience something like this. After Love Today was released, he told me that I had a bright future. When he himself says that, why should I worry about what anyone else thinks or says?"
He then narrated an anecdote from his meeting with the actor after Dragon. "When I met him again after Dragon, he enacted the way my character flicks the cigarette in the film. That gesture was inspired by Rajini sir’s style, of course. But watching him imitate my action, I realised how effortlessly and naturally it came to him—while I had to rehearse that moment countless times to get it right. Later, I even found out that he had done that same flick in one of his 1980s films! What more could an actor ask for than Rajini sir appreciating your style? He’s the very definition of style himself!"
In the same interview, Pradeep also denied the claim that he will be the director of the Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan film. Apart from Dude, he also has the release of LIK this year, which is postponed to December 18.
