Respect comes with talent, not language, says Pramod

Kannada actor Pramod has signed his second Telugu film, titled Lenin. The film, directed by Murali Kishore, also stars Akhil Akkineni. “It feels surreal when our work gets recognised in a neighbouring film industry. The team wanted me to portray a character that’s on par with the lead role,” he says.

“In Telugu cinema, artistes with real talent are given immense respect, regardless of where they are from. I don’t see too much of a challenge when it comes to acting in films in another language, as cinema itself is a universal language. With audiences exposed to pan-India films, they’re now open to seeing actors from other industries on their screens,” he explains.

On the home front, Pramod believes that Kannada films need stronger production teams to support young talent and help the industry flourish. “It’s great that big films like KGF and Kantara got global attention, but small films with strong content are equally important for the growth of the film industry. When these films get support from major production houses, they can reach wider audiences — and that’s one way of reclaiming our lost glory,” he shares.