At the Hyderabad press meet of "Dude," a female journalist remarked that Pradeep Ranganathan isn’t “hero material” and suggested he doesn’t have the “looks” of a lead actor.
Pradeep responded calmly, saying he wasn’t hurt by the comment and believes audiences connect with him because he represents the common man.
However, social media didn’t take the remark lightly. Netizens slammed the journalist for being insensitive and borderline discriminatory.
Reacting to the online backlash, Pradeep clarified that he took no offense and is used to such comments. He added that these remarks don’t affect him.
In today’s race for viral content, some journalists tend to frame questions insensitively, forgetting that actors like Pradeep gain popularity not through conventional looks but through relatability and performance. After all, the definition of “hero material” differs for everyone.
Pradeep handled the situation with grace and maturity — without anger, ego, or hurt.
