He’s just been launched as the hero by Prabu Solomon in his next film Kayal. For newbie Chandran, it’s a strange cocktail of elation, excitement and expectations. Has the pressure of expectations gotten to him? Chandran shakes his curly locks in reply, “I’m not just on cloud 9. I’m on cloud 99 now. Working in a Prabu Solomon film is a dream come true for any hero. I do feel a bit stressed about the road ahead, but it’s a nice kind of excitement.”
Though Chandran studied at the Sivaswami Kalalaya and later at the Vivekananda College in Chennai, he moved to New Delhi to do a PG at the National Institute of Advertising. “I always wanted to be in films, but dad was strict about studies and having a fall back career plan,” says Chandran. After working in sales at Suryan FM, and as branding consultant at Sathyam Cinemas, Chandran quit his job. “I wanted to get into films and started auditioning. I decided to take the plunge,” says Chandran.
Chandran has been part of over 50 plays from his school days and acted in plays by Inferno Productions. “A co-actor told me Solomon was auditioning for his film. I sent my photos and got a call the next day. I thought it was for a character role. At the end of it, Solomon told me I was the hero,” recalls Chandran. Chandran’s only preparation has been, losing 15 kgs. “Solomon’s instructions are, ‘You shouldn’t act. Just react’. I’m waiting to do just that,” he says.