Public TV chairman H R Ranganath marks Hollywood presence with ‘Fast X’

BENGALURU: Public TV founder chairman H R Ranganath has created a buzz on social media since Thursday after he was spotted in a scene in the Hollywood action thriller Fast X. The movie, starring Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez and Brie Larson among others, released in theatres in India on Friday. Netizens have been raising several questions on the connection between Ranganath and Hollywood.

In fact, the Fast X technical crew had visited the Public TV office in Bengaluru and shot the scene with H R Ranganath at the Public TV news studios.

“About three months ago, I got an invitation to enact a scene through a friend who is known to the Fast X crew. Since it was related to my profession, I agreed. The filming was done in our studios only”, said Ranganath, about his role in the movie.

Ranganath is the second Mysurean to feature in a Hollywood movie after Sabu Dastagir, who acted in the 1937 British adventure film ‘Elephant Boy’, directed by Zoltan Korda, Robert J Flaherty. The movie was based on Rudyard Kipling’s short story ‘Toomai, of the Elephants’. Sabu Dastagir was just 13 years old at that time. He was born at Karapura village in H D Kote taluk of Mysuru district.

After the success of the movie, Sabu Dastagir was flooded with offers and he acted in ‘Jungle Book’, ‘The Maneaters of Kumaon’, ‘Thief of Bhagdad’, ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘A Tiger Walks’ among others. He was granted American citizenship in1944 and settled there itself.

He married Marilyn Cooper in 1948 and quit acting in 1963. During the end of World War II, he joined the US armed foces and flew several dozen missions with the 370th Bombardment Squadron of the 307th Bomb Group in the Pacific, and was awarded the ‘Distinguished Flying Cross’ for his valor and bravery.