I’ve always lived life on my own terms: Ram Pothineni on his transition from actor to director

After donning the hat of a lyricist with Nuvvunte Chaley in Andhra King Taluka last year, Ram Pothineni is taking an even bigger leap behind the camera. The actor, who has already worked on the script of his upcoming dark psychological thriller in which he plays Veera, is now set to make his directorial debut with the same project. Ram is known for bringing intense energy to the screen, and he is channeling that same fearless streak into his new role. “The industry constantly scares you. But I’ve always been a rebel that way. I’ve always lived life on my own terms,” he says defiantly. For Ram, taking the helm as director feels like the perfect culmination of two decades in showbiz. Looking back, he shares, “This 20-year journey in films has been one of immense growth — both as an actor and as a person. I was just 18 when I entered the industry, and I witnessed extreme ups and downs very early on. The path back is rarely simple, but as long as I understand it and follow it, I feel grounded.”Makes a mark with Devadasu at the age of 182006 onwards: Leading actorDelivers hits like Ready, Kandireega, Nenu Sailaja, Hello Guru Prema Kosame and iSmart Shankar2025: Turns lyricistPens lyrics for Nuvvunte Chaley from Andhra King Taluka2026: Steps into directionSet to make his directorial debut with an untitled psychological thriller, while also playing the lead role