By Following the Success of Dragon, Directors Now Recognize My Talent and Offer Me Roles That Align With My Aspirations: Kayadu Lohar
Kayadu Lohar, who recently made her Tamil debut with Dragon alongside Pradeep Ranganathan, believes in breaking barriers and paving the way for other young women with dreams. Coming from a lower middle-class background, she acknowledges the challenges but is determined to prove that dreams can be realized. In a recent conversation, she spoke about how the success of Dragon has impacted her career, her experience in the industry, and working across multiple languages.
The overwhelming response to Dragon has been a game-changer for Kayadu. Before the film, she was relatively unknown, but now, both the audience and the industry recognize her. She is thrilled to receive appreciation for her role and is grateful that her performance has opened doors to exciting opportunities. Filmmakers now see her potential, and she is finally getting the kind of projects she has always dreamed of. The love and recognition she has received make her feel truly blessed.
Kayadu’s journey into acting began unexpectedly during her college years when her mother encouraged her to participate in Times Fresh Face Season 12. She saw it as a fun opportunity during the holidays and went on to win the competition. This win proved to be a turning point, as a casting director soon approached her for an advertisement, which eventually led to her first Kannada film, Mugilpete. She considers Times Fresh Face a lucky charm for anyone who participates, as it gave her valuable exposure and helped her discover herself. The experience of meeting people from different states and exploring new perspectives remains one of her fondest memories.
Her love for performing, however, started much earlier. As a child, she found joy in dancing and imitating legendary actresses like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. One of her earliest memories is performing Chaiyya Chaiyya on stage at the age of five or six. While she didn’t realize at the time that acting would become her career, the passion for performing was always there in the back of her mind.
Interestingly, Kayadu was initially approached for the role of Keerthi in Dragon, which was later played by Anupama Parameswaran. After the narration, when director Ashwath Marimuthu didn’t contact her for a month, she assumed she wouldn’t be part of the project. However, he later returned with an offer for her to play Pallavi instead, believing it would be a perfect debut role for her in Tamil cinema. Trusting his vision, she took on the role and was confident that Dragon would boost her career, though she never expected it to do so on such a grand scale.
Her foray into multiple film industries happened organically rather than by design. She has acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi films, each with its own unique style and nuances. Among these, she finds Malayalam the most difficult language to learn, followed by Tamil and Telugu. Though working across industries wasn’t something she planned, she appreciates the experience and considers it a fascinating part of her career.
Kayadu, whose parents are from Assam and who was raised in Pune, has always embraced diverse cultures. For her, feeling welcomed and respected in a place matters more than anything else. She has developed a deep attachment to Chennai, where she currently resides. So much so that whenever she leaves the city, she experiences separation anxiety and eagerly looks forward to returning.
Recently, a viral video featuring Kayadu and Pradeep Ranganathan led to some misunderstandings. In the clip, Pradeep was seen stating that she creates her own memes, which led to online speculation about her personality. Clarifying the situation, she explained that the moment was scripted and planned, but it took a different turn on social media. She does not create her own memes but acknowledges having a PR team, as is common in the industry. She believes public relations are an essential aspect of an actor’s career, helping them reach a wider audience, but she ensures that her PR activities are conducted with integrity and do not harm others.
As Kayadu continues to make her mark in the industry, she remains focused on her journey and the opportunities ahead. With her dedication, versatility, and passion for acting, she hopes to inspire more young women to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles they face.
