Written by Alex Alexander
Originally from Vizig, India, LA-based Manoj Chandra blew audiences away with his leading performance in Praveena Parachuri’s Kothapallilo Okappudu, a comedic drama (and box office hit) that tackles everything from god to race to love. He credits his transformative time at The Lee Strasberg Institute & Film Institute for equipping him to handle the delicacies and nuances of his complicated, imperfect character, Ramakrishna.
From India to the Big Apple and Back Again: Manoj’s Journey to LSTFI
Manoj’s early acting life began in regional theater in Vizig, India. While navigating this, he received his post-graduate degree in Data Science from the International Institute of Information Technology. During this time, he discovered The Institute, although he had no idea what it would unlock for him.
Manoj found The Institute by observing standout performances by actors — the kind of performances that move you, change you — and followed the magic back to the source. More often than not, the actors who touched him were associated with The Method and Lee Strasberg, having trained at either The Institute or the Actors Studio. He sensed there was something special, some “x factor,” that actors find in themselves through Method Acting. He had to know more.
Just pages into Lee Strasberg’s A Dream of Passion, and feeling “lucky to have even discovered [The Institute],” Manoj knew where he needed to go: Los Angeles, California.
Studying at The Institute: On a Magical Place Becoming Home
The first day of Manoj’s training at The Institute was “purely cinematic”, the first of many experiences at LSTFI that have stayed with him. Entering the beautiful building that would become his “emotional home,” he stared at the stars on the wall — Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Marilyn Monroe, Lee Strasberg himself. From his orientation with David Lee Strasberg to the WhatsApp group for social events to the palpable sense of camaraderie, Manoj felt adopted into a community unlike any other higher education he’s heard of. Immediately, he knew he was home.
Then the work began. At first overwhelmed by the course load and the intensity of a Method Acting class, Manoj soon got his bearings. Hours of hard work, rehearsing between classes, challenging exercises, and new emotional heights all set the foundation for what would become an “emotional center” for Manoj. He would use this center on the set of Kothapallilo Okappudu as an “emotional recall,” one of the many Method techniques he relied on.
Making the Most of LSTFI: The Method Lab
Each month, LSTFI Los Angeles offers The Method Lab — an advanced one-day workshop taught by David Lee Strasberg, designed for experienced Method Actors to continue their training. Manoj describes the class as a true “laboratory,” where David and the students “tapped into the most off beat things” in a “total freestyle” manner that truly felt like “research.”
He looked forward to these sessions all month, eager to roll up his sleeves and work in such a dedicated environment. At the end of his final lab, unsure which monologue to present for the class, Manoj went back to his old-faithful: a complicated piece about murder and schizophrenia. He had used the monologue to audition for theater in India and had often performed “with no success,” but knew the piece backwards and forwards, inside and out. That day, he performed in his native tongue and just “went for it.” This time, with new Method training under his belt, it landed.
“Mr. David put the recording up on the screen to analyze,” he recalls. “He paused it, zoomed in on my face and eyes to show the class, and then said, ‘You need guts and talent to pull off something like that.’” Manoj was awe-struck. The full-circle moment, and those words coming directly from David Strasberg, are written on the walls of his heart.
Beyond International: The Universal Magic of The Method and Working Globally
With credits including Nigerian comedy Christmas in Miami and the award-winning short film Men in Blue, Manoj has been putting in the hours around the globe. He reports that a Method Actor’s signature sparkle is understood universally, even subconsciously. In general, he has found most directors to be very receptive to The Method and the legacy of Lee Strasberg, especially those familiar with film history or the powerful work of LSTFI alumni.
Kothapallilo Okappudu director Praveena Paruchuri recognized that spark in him, working with Manoj to let his technical training support him while telling the story. Manoj likened his time at The Institute to “charging up,” filling up emotionally and energetically. On set, he was an “energetic surplus” that allowed non-Method actors to play off him in a unique way that both parties enjoyed.
Kothapallilo Okappudu: Complicated Themes Delivered Truthfully
India is an incredibly diverse country, with many cultures, languages, religions, and the complex socio-political and cultural dynamics inherent to a multi-faceted society. Kothapallilo Okappudu does not shy away from heavy and hot-button themes — from the concept of “god” to the caste system, from greed and money to race and skin color, love and gender. The actors had their work cut out for them, and Manoj was no exception.
He explained how his character, Ramakrishna, is “not simple, he’s supposed to screw up, but not harm.” There were many moments where if his performance was “off by just one beat, it would change the meaning” and “could alienate the audience.” He credits his Method training, and the emotional intelligence he gained from teachers like David Strasberg, with his ability to digest such a nuanced story and deliver the truth of Ramakrishna’s humanity in a delicate way.
Much to Manoj’s relief, his performance resonated. He had the opportunity to sit with live audiences and experience their laughter, shock, tears — all at the right moments — and feel the impact of his portrayal of Ramakrishna.
Parting Thoughts from Manoj Chandra
No doubt part of the recipe to Manoj’s success is his gratitude, something he expressed many times during his interview. He specifically thanked director Dr. Praveena Paruchuri for supporting new talent and allowing him to bring Ramakrishna to life. He thanked Rana Daggaubati Gaaru for presenting their film in the international box office and for welcoming him to Southbay Talent.
Manoj was emphatic in his love and appreciation for The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, everything it is and represents. To any prospective students wondering if they should take the leap, Manoj says that acting is an ongoing practice, a life long endeavor, and that The Institute will become home.
“It is a continuous process, you can call it the Mecca or the Temple, but it will become the center of your life if this is where you start acting,” Manoj shares. “You may explore other styles, but everything brings you back to The Method. Being a Method actor will be your biggest strength and something nobody can ever take from you.”