Vinay Varma
Vinay Varma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Theatre practitioner, actor, scriptwriter, casting director |
| Website | www |
Vinay Varma is an Indian theatre practitioner, actor, scriptwriter, and casting director. Straddling stage and screen, he has acted in and directed over 45 plays, while his film career includes more than 40 titles in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and one Hollywood production. His notable films include Fighter (2024 film) and Test (2025 film). His work further extends to the digital and television space, with roles in series such as Qubool Hai? and A Simple Murder. [1]
From academia to the arts
[edit]Born in Hyderabad to academic scholar Dr. Anand Raj Varma [2], he grew up with the ambition of becoming a physician. When he failed to fulfil this dream, he turned towards the humanities. Over the years, he worked as a lecturer, news reporter, administrator, and translator before resigning from his banking career in the early 2000s to pursue theatre.
Over the decades, he has directed 45+ plays, acted in more than 50, and performed in 200 productions across India and abroad. Some of his well-known performances include Natasamrat, Raktbeej,[3] Main Rahi Masoom,[4] Siyaah Haashiye, Stronger Than Superman, Main Nathuram Godse, Death Watch, Kanjoos Makkhi Choose,[5] David Mamet's Oleanna.[6][7] His play Main Rahi Masoom is based on the life of writer Dr Rahi Masoom Raza. Besides Hyderabad, Main Rahi Masoom has been performed in Kala Ghoda Arts Festival – Mumbai, 3rd Minerva National Theatre Festival – Kolkata, Pratyay Theatre Festival – Kolhapur, 12th Bharath Rang Mahotsav – New Delhi, 22nd National Drama Festival – Allahabad, 8th World Theatre Olympics-Chandigarh, Film and Television Institute of India-Pune. It was also performed in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bengaluru etc. Vinay Varma was also invited by the Society of Friends International, London, to stage Main Rahi Masoom.[8] On 2 March 2018, Main Rahi Masoom celebrated its 50th show, at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad, India. He directed Sutradhar's debut Marathi play, Passwala. It premiered on World Theatre Day 2024 in Hyderabad. Passwala brings to life Jayant Pawar's (senior journalist & playwright) dialogue with a crematorium keeper in Worli, Mumbai.[9]
Varma has been conducting Acting, Voice, Audition, and Body Language Workshops at Sutradhar since 1999 and has identified and trained more than 300 talents. Actors trained by him include Vijay Varma,[10] Sree Vishnu, Aditi Sharma (Ahana of Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki), Vijay Deverakonda,[11] Anand Deverakonda,[12] and Aberaam Varma.
Career
[edit]Filmography
[edit]Telugu films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Vrusshabha | Prakash (Mohanlal's friend) | An upcoming Indian period fantasy action drama film. Shot in Telugu and Malayalam, the film will also be dubbed into Hindi, Tamil, English, and Kannada. |
| 2025 | Artiste | Ravindra, a lecherous debtor (Krisheka Patel's father) [13] | |
| 2024 | Dhoom Dhaam | Narendra Bhoopathi, a ruthless businessman | |
| 2023 | Waltair Veerayya | Superintendent of Police | |
| 2023 | Meter | DGP Dileep Raavath | |
| 2023 | Music School | Govind Rao Bhaskar Rao Kulkarni, the supportive parent | Also served as the Casting Director |
| 2023 | Aadikeshava | Vijay Mohan, Minister for Mines and Geology | |
| 2021 | Zombie Reddy | Bhooma Reddy, Lahari Shari's father | |
| 2021 | Naandhi | Nagendra, a corrupt ex-Home Minister | |
| 2021 | Aakashavaani | Dora, the main villain | In Telugu, Dora means lord, master, or chief. |
| 2021 | Drushyam 2 | CI J. Prathap, member of Goutham's (Sampath Raj) investigation team | |
| 2020 | V | Sadique Hasan, the benevolent underworld don | |
| 2020 | IIT Krishnamurthy | ACP Vinay Varma | |
| 2019 | Evaru | Banerjee, Regena Cassandrra's lawyer | |
| 2019 | George Reddy | Minister Ramayya, the main antagonist who plans George Reddy's murder | |
| 2019 | Meeku Maathrame Cheptha | Avantika Mishra's uncle | |
| 2019 | Dorasaani | Raja Reddy, the Dora, the main antagonist | In Telugu, Dora means lord, master, or chief. |
| 2019 | Boy | Mathematics teacher Nagendra | |
| 2018 | Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava | Timma Reddy, N. T. Rama Rao Jr.'s grandfather | |
| 2018 | Idam Jagath | Police Commissioner Vikram Simha | |
| 2016 | Gentleman | David, Nivetha Thomas' uncle | |
| 2016 | Terror | DCP Rathod | |
| 2016 | Zindagi | Interrogating Cop | |
| 2014 | Anaamika | CI Ravi Chandra | |
| 2012 | Nippu | Police Commissioner of Dubai | |
| 2012 | Ko Antey Koti | Inspector Ranjit Kumar | |
| 2012 | Dream | Doctor, Rajendra Prasad (actor)'s friend | |
| 2009 | Ninnu Kalisaka | Heroine's (Dipa Shah) father | |
| 2006 | Veedhi | Sivanna, Gopika's father, the main antagonist | |
| 2005 | Danger | Tantrik | |
| 2004 | Tapana | Siddhu's (hero) father | |
| 2002 | Nee Thodu Kavali | Manasa's (Charmy Kaur) father | |
| 2000 | Love | Pakistani terrorist |
Hindi Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jaat | Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar | |
| 2024 | Fighter | Air Commodore Debajyoti "Debu" Biswas, AOC, Air Force Station, Srinagar | |
| 2023 | Music School | Govind Rao Bhaskar Rao Kulkarni, the supportive parent | Also Co-Wrote the dialogues and served as Casting Director |
| 2022 | Jersey | Major Krishna Rao, Mrunal Thakur's father | |
| 2014 | Yeh Hai Bakrapur | Singhania, the right-wing party leader | |
| 2014 | Bobby Jasoos | Tasawwur's (Ali Fazal) father | |
| 2011 | Virgin Goat (Laadli Laila) | Butcher | |
| 2010 | Knock Out | Police Commissioner | |
| 2008 | Mukhbiir | Underworld don Ismail | |
| 2004 | Rudraksh | Fake mantrik | |
| 2002 | 16 December | Home Minister Shiv Charan Shukla | |
| 1999 | Tu Hi Meri Ganga | Loknath, the fake Godman |
Hollywood films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Beeper | Tiger, Harvey Keitel's partner in drug peddling |
Tamil films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Test | Dharmesh Agarwal, jeweller cum bookie | |
| 2014 | Anaamika | CI Ravi Chandra |
Web series
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Language | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Qubool Hai? | Rafique pehelwan | aha | Hyderabadi & Telugu | [14] |
| 2021 | Game | Rana, the organ racketeer | Hotstar | Telugu | |
| 2020 | A Simple Murder | Politician Pran Dawas | Sony Liv | Hindi | [15] |
| 2019 | Sacred Games | National Security Advisor | Netflix | Hindi |
Television
[edit]| Name | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bala | Urdu | Muazzam, the lecherous son of Aurangazeb | DD National. |
| Daanav Hunters | Hindi | Lankeshwar | Epic Channel |
| Dayasagar | Hindi | Judas Iscariot | DD National |
| Dharti Bane Phulwari | Hindi | DD National | |
| Ek Kahani (Atmahatya) Ek Kahani (Narsayya ki Baodi) |
Hindi | Chiranjeevi & bank loan broker respectively | Two Seasons - 1985 & 1989. On DD National. |
| Main Phir Janma Hoon | Hindi | Barabbas | Telefilm. DD National. |
| Madhavi | Telugu | Jaswant Rao, antagonist | DD National |
| Manushulu – Mamathalu | Telugu | Protagonist | DD National |
| Naghme ka Safar | Hindi | Doctor | DD National |
| Peter the Second | Hindi | Antagonist | Telefilm. DD National. |
| Shraddha | Hindi | Played a writer, husband of Rama Vij | DD National. Also wrote dialogues for all the episodes. |
Theatre
[edit]| Latest Year of Performance | Play | Language | Actor/Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Passwala [16] | Hindi | Actor/Director | Representation of Jayant Pawar’s conversation with a crematorium keeper |
| 2025 | Maha Periyava | Telugu | Director | Writer Hindu Ganesan. Episodes from the life of 68th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham - Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati VIII, also known as Periyava. |
| 2025 | Ek Se Badhkar Ek | Hindi | Actor | Adapted from Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy's Abbey Em Ledu |
| 2024 | Ismat - Ek Aurat | Urdu/Hindi | Director | A collection of three short stories by Ismat Chughtai. Staged 15 shows so far. |
| 2024 | Passwala | Marathi | Director | Representation of Jayant Pawar’s conversation with a crematorium keeper |
| 2023 | Dushala [17] | Hindi | Director | Writer Pritham K. Chakravarthy |
| 2023 | Raktbeej | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Dr. Shanker Shesh |
| 2023 | Jugger'Naatu'kam | Telugu | Director | Writer Srikant Sinker |
| 2023 | Weekend [18] | Hindi | Director | Writer Nirmal Verma |
| 2022 | Dhuli Kanya Dushala [19] | Bengali | Director | Writer Pritham K. Chakravarthy |
| 2022 | Main Rahi Masoom | Hindi/Urdu | Actor | Based on the life of Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza. Staged 65 shows so far. |
| 2022 | Aadhi Raat Ke Baad [20] | Hindi | Director | Writer Dr. Shanker Shesh |
| 2021 | Abbey! Em Ledu [21] | Telugu | Director | Writer Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy |
| 2019 | Oleanna | English | Actor | Writer David Mamet |
| 2019 | Andhere Mein [22] | Hindi | Actor/Director | Partap Sehgal’s Indian adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s “Black Comedy”. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India. |
| 2019 | White Rabbit Red Rabbit | Hindi | Actor | Writer Nassim Soleimanpour |
| 2017 | Sita Apaharan Case | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Dr. Prem Janmejay |
| 2017 | Mah Laqa Bai Chanda | Urdu/Hindi | Director | Writer Dr. Oudhesh Rani Bawa |
| 2017 | Bitter Chocolate | Hindi/English/Hyderabadi | Actor/Director | Based on Pinki Virani's book 'Bitter Chocolate' |
| 2017 | Siyaah Haashiye | Urdu | Actor/Director | Based on a collection of 40 short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto. Staged 13 shows so far. |
| 2017 | Kanjoos Makkhi Choose | Deccani/Hyderabadi | Actor/Director | Adaptation of Molière's The Miser |
| 2017 | Jaal – Dramatised play reading | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Annie Zaidi (writer) |
| 2016 | Maryada (a collection of two short plays: Touch & Sita Shoorpnakha) | Hindi | Co-director | Writer Shivani Tibrewala |
| 2016 | Kisi Aur ka Sapna | Hindi | Director | Writer Nand Kishore Acharya |
| 2016 | Pushp | Hindi | Actor | Hindi translation of Girish Karnad's play, Flower. |
| 2015 | Agnes of God | Hindi/English | Director | Writer John Pielmeier |
| 2015 | Out at Sea | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Slawomir Mrozek |
| 2014 | Post Mortem | Hindi | Director | Writer Milind Tikhe |
| 2014 | Aamne - Saamne | Hindi | Actor/Director | A collage of two short plays - "The Stronger" by August Strindberg, "Maranoparant" by Surendra Verma |
| 2014 | Birjees Qadar ka Kumba | Hindustani | Director | An adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Adapted and translated by Dr Raghuvir Sahay. |
| 2014 | Natasamrat | Hindi | Actor | Writer Kusumagraj |
| 2012 | Gadha Ya Aadmi | Hindi | Voice-over | Leather puppetry show |
| 2012 | Jungle Book | English | Actor | Directed by Vaishali Bisht |
| 2011 | Godse – An Assassin Speaks | Hindi/English | Actor/Co-Director | Nathuram Godse’s Monologue |
| 2011 | Isosceles Triangle | English | Actor/Director | Writer Dr. C.H. Phansalkar |
| 2010 | On Vacation | English | Actor/Director | Writer Sachin Kundalkar |
| 2010 | Voids, S p a c e s & Borders | Hindi | Director | An ensemble of 3 short performances Dramatic Space Writer: Theo Lesoualch Kisi Seema Ki Ek Mamooli Si Ghatna, Writer Sagar Sarhadi Avoid the Void, Writer Shivani Tibrewala |
| 2009 | Neem Hakim Khatar e Jaan | Hindi | Actor/Director | Adaptation of Molière’s The Doctor In Spite Of Himself (Le Médecin malgré lui) |
| 2009 | Four Dimensions | Hindi | Actor | A collage of four short plays: “Gandhaari”, pieces from Dharamvir Bharati’s “Andha Yug”, Benjamin Franklin’s “The Trial of Polly Baker”, Syed Junaidullah’s “Death of Poem”, Nathuram Godse’s Monologue “An Assassin Speaks” |
| 2008 | Kashmakash | A mix of languages: English, Hindi, Hyderabadi | Director/Actor | An organic play |
| 2007 | Uttararddha | Hindi | Director | Writer Vijay Mondkar, translated by Anant Kulkarni |
| 2007 | Shanivaar ke Do Baje | Hindi | Actor | Writer Surendra Verma |
| 2006 | Goodbye Swami | Hindi | Actor | Writer Susheel Kumar Singh |
| 2006 | Atmahatya ki Dukaan | Hindi | Director | Writer Asha Varma |
| 2005 | Kissa Karodimal Ki Laash Ka | Deccani/Hyderabadi | Director | Diwakar Babu’s Telugu play Kundeti Kommu. Adapted and translated by Anant Kulkarni. |
| 2005 | Andhon ka Haathi | Hindi | Director | Writer Sharad Joshi |
| 2005 | Room No 13 Block No 14 | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Srikanth Sinkar |
| 2004 | Teen Apahij | Hindi | Director | Writer Vipin Agarwal |
| 2004 | Chakravyuha | Hindi | Director | Writer Rajesh Dhabre |
| 2004 | The Phoenix | Hindi | Director | Writer Abhijit Sircar |
| 2002 | Inspector Matadeen Chand Par | Hindi | Actor | Writer Harishankar Parsai |
| 2002 | Hay Mera Dil | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Ranbir Singh |
| 2002 | Deathwatch | Hindi | Actor | |
| 2001 | Prastaav | Hindi | Actor/Director | Anton Chekhov’s “The Proposal” adapted in Hindi by Anant Kulkarni |
| 2001 | Budh Kaam Shudh | Hindi | Director | Writer I. S. Johar |
| 2001 | Aarop | Hindi | Actor | Writer Suresh Khare, adapted by Anant Kulkarni |
| 2000 | Saiyan Bhaye Kotwal | Hindi | Actor/Director | Adapted from the popular Marathi play Vichha Majhi Puri Kara by Vasant Sabnis |
| 2000 | Kisi ko toh Jaana Hoga | Hindi | Actor/Director | Based on Subhash Parkhi's Marathi play Kalpana, translated in Hindi by Anant Kulkarni |
| 2000 | Gandhi Ambedkar | Hindi | Actor/Co-Director | Writer Dr. Premanand Gajvi |
| 1999 | Raja ka Baaja | Hindi | Actor/Director | First workshop production. Writer Safdar Hashmi. |
| 1996 | Kaath ka Ghoda | Hindi | Actor | Writer Manoranjan Das |
| 1995 | Ballabhpur ki Roopkatha | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Badal Sarkar |
| 1993 | Phandi | Hindi | Actor/Director | Writer Dr. Shanker Shesh |
| 1988 | Langda Ghoda | Hindi | Actor | Writer Kadir Zaman |
| 1988 | Stronger Than Superman | Hindi | Actor | Written by Roy Kift, adapted by Anant Kulkarni |
| 1987 | Guddi Pappu aur Munna | Hindi | Actor | Based on Volker Ludwig’s Max und Milli, adapted by Anant Kulkarni |
| 1986 | Aage Daudo Peeche Chhodo | Hindi | Actor | Based on Baban Prabhu’s Marathi play, adapted by Anant Kulkarni |
| 1985 | Krapp ke Antim Shabd | Hindi | Actor | Based on Samuel Beckett’s "Krapp's Last Tapes", translated by Vijay Ahluwalia |
| 1983 | Five | English | Actor | Writer Shreekumar Varma |
| 1982 | Tambe ke Keede | Hindi | Actor | Writer Bhuvaneshwar Prasad |
| 1982 | Aage Aage Premchand, Peeche Peeche Hum | Hindi | Actor | Writer Venugopal |
| 1981 | Mahatma | Hindi | Actor | Written and directed by Lingam Pandu Pradeep |
| 1981 | Cyclewaala | Hindi | Actor | Writer Venugopal |
| 1981 | Interview | Hindi | Actor | Written and directed by Dr. D.K. Goel |
| 1980 | Brecht ke Laghu Natak | Hindi | Actor | Adapted from Bertolt Brecht's short plays |
| 1980 | Coffee House Mein Intezaar | Hindi | Actor | Writer Dr. Laxminarayan Lal. Varma's first play as an actor. |
References
[edit]- ^ "Guftagoo with Vinay Varma". Rajya Sabha TV. 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Eminent Personalities".
- ^ "Raktbeej Reality Bites". Deccan Chronicle. 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Solemn soliloquy: Vinay Varma on playing Rahi Masoom Raza". Indulge Express. 28 April 2017.
- ^ Ramakrishna, Lakshmi (28 March 2017). "'Kanjoos Makhi Choose': The miser and his miseries". The Hindu.
- ^ "A Valiant Showcase". Deccan Chronicle. 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Sutradhar's Oleanna — A Reflection On Academic Power Play". Times of India. 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Hyderabad's play Main Rahi Masoom goes global". 25 June 2014.
- ^ "A glimpse of life vis-a-vis death". 21 March 2024.
- ^ "I'm in safe hands". New Indian Express. 19 December 2017.
- ^ "Interview with Vijay Devarakonda". telugu360. 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Dorasani Actor Vinay Varma About Anand Devarakonda | Vinay Varma Interview | Friday Poster". YouTube. 14 July 2019.
- ^ "Artiste".
- ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (14 March 2022). "'Qubool Hai' web series review: The Telugu-Dakhani series scores on some fronts and engages partially". The Hindu.
- ^ "A Simple Murder Review – A highly entertaining comedy series | klapboardpost". 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "A glimpse of life vis-a-vis death". 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Dushala's unspoken truth". 7 November 2023.
- ^ [shttps://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/sutradhars-adhikar-a-set-of-two-solo-acts-heralds-international-womens-day-in-hyderabad/article66566922.ece "Sutradhar's Adhikar, a set of two solo acts heralds International Women's Day in Hyderabad"].
- ^ [shttps://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/sutradhars-adhikar-a-set-of-two-solo-acts-heralds-international-womens-day-in-hyderabad/article66566922.ece "Sutradhar's Adhikar, a set of two solo acts heralds International Women's Day in Hyderabad"].
- ^ "Theatre stands tall: Thespian Vinay Varma". 25 March 2022 – via The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Make way for some Slapstick comedy". www.newindianexpress.com. 11 November 2021.
- ^ Sripada, Krishna (6 August 2019). "'Andhere Mein' : A dark comedy, quite literally!". The Hindu.