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Vinay Varma

Vinay Varma
Born
Occupation(s)Theatre practitioner, actor, scriptwriter, casting director
Websitewww.vinayvarma.in

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 work further extends to the digital and television space, with notable roles in series such as Qubool Hai? and A Simple Murder. [1]

From academia to the arts

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 FestivalMumbai, 3rd Minerva National Theatre FestivalKolkata, Pratyay Theatre FestivalKolhapur, 12th Bharath Rang MahotsavNew Delhi, 22nd National Drama FestivalAllahabad, 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]

Career

Filmography

Telugu films

Year Title Role Notes
2025 Artiste Ravindra, a lecherous debtor (Krisheka Patel's father) [10]
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, Anandhi (actress)'s father
2021 Naandhi Nagendra, a corrupt ex-home minister
2021 Aakashavaani Dhora, the main villain
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 main antagonist of the Dora village
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
2009 Ninnu Kalisaka Heroine's (Dipa Shah) father
2006 Veedhi Sivanna, 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

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

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Beeper Tiger, Harvey Keitel's partner in drug peddling

Tamil films

Year Title Role Notes
2025 Test Dharmesh Agarwal, jeweller cum bookie
2014 Anaamika CI Ravi Chandra

Web series

Year Title Role Platform Language Ref.
2022 Qubool Hai? Rafique pehelwan aha Hyderabadi & Telugu [11]
2021 Game Rana, the organ racketeer Hotstar Telugu
2020 A Simple Murder Politician Pran Dawas Sony Liv Hindi [12]
2019 Sacred Games National Security Advisor Netflix Hindi

Television

Name Language Role Notes
1 Ek Kahani (Atmahatya)
Ek Kahani (Narsayya ki Baodi)
Hindi Chiranjeevi & bank loan broker respectively Two Seasons - 1985 & 1989. On DD National.
2 Dharti Bane Phulwari Hindi DD National
3 Dayasagar Hindi Judas Iscariot DD National
4 Shraddha Hindi Played a writer, husband of Rama Vij DD National. Also wrote dialogues for all the episodes.
5 Bala Urdu Muazzam, the lecherous son of Aurangazeb DD National.
6 Manushulu – Mamathalu Telugu Protagonist DD National
7 Madhavi Telugu Jaswant Rao, antagonist DD National
8 Peter the Second Hindi Antagonist Telefilm. DD National.
9 Daanav Hunters Hindi Lankeshwar Epic Channel
10 Naghme ka Safar Hindi Doctor DD National
11 Main Phir Janma Hoon Hindi Barabbas Telefilm. DD National.

Theatre [13]

First Year of Performance Play Language Actor/Director Notes
2025 Maha Periyava Telugu Director Written by Hindu Ganesan. Episodes from the life of 68th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham - Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati VIII, also known as Periyava.
2025 Passwala (Hindi) [14] Hindi Actor Representation of Jayant Pawar’s conversation with
a crematorium keeper
2024 Passwala Marathi Director Representation of Jayant Pawar’s conversation with
a crematorium keeper
2023 Dushala [15] Bengali Director Written by Pritham K. Chakravarthy
2023 Jugger'Naatu'kam Telugu Director Written by Srikant Sinker
2022 Aadhi Raat Ke Baad [16] Hindi Director Written by Dr. Shanker Shesh
2022 Dushala (Hindi) Hindi Director Written by Pritham K. Chakravarthy
2021 Weekend [17] Hindi Director Written by Nirmal Verma
2020 Abbey! Em Ledu [18] Telugu Director Written by Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy
2019 Andhere Mein [19] Hindi Actor/Director Partap Sehgal’s Indian adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s “Black Comedy”. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India.
2019 Oleanna English Actor Written by David Mamet
2017 Kanjoos Makkhi Choose Deccani/Hyderabadi Actor/Director Adaptation of Molière's The Miser
2017 Jaal – Dramatised play reading Hindi Actor/Director Written by Annie Zaidi (writer)
2016 Raktbeej Hindi Actor/Director Written by Dr. Shanker Shesh
2016 Sita Soorpanakha Hindi Director Written by Shivani Tibrewala
2016 Touch Hindi Director Written by Smita Nirula
2015 Bitter Chocolate Hindi/English/Hyderabadi Actor/Director Based on Pinki Virani's book 'Bitter Chocolate'
2015 Out at Sea Hindi Actor/Director Written by Slawomir Mrozek
2015 Agnes of God Hindi/English Director Written by John Pielmeier
2014 Maranoparant Hindi Actor/Director Written by Surendra Verma
2014 The Stronger Hindi/English Director Written by August Strindberg
2014 Post Mortem Hindi Director Written by Milind Tikhe
2013 Ismat - Ek Aurat Urdu/Hindi Director A collection of three short stories by Ismat Chughtai. Staged 15 shows so far.
2013 Mah Laqa Bai Chanda Urdu/Hindi Director Written by Dr. Oudhesh Rani Bawa
2012 Birjees Qadar ka Kunba Urdu/Hindi Director An adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Adapted and translated by Dr Raghuvir Sahay.
2011 Isosceles Triangle English Actor/Director Written by Dr. C.H. Phansalkar
2011 Siyaah Haashiye Urdu Actor/Director Based on a collection of 40 short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto. Staged 13 shows so far.
2010 Sita Apaharan Case Hindi Actor/Director Written by Dr. Prem Janmejay
2010 Voids, Spaces & Borders Hindi/English Actor/Director Includes Shivani Tibrewala’s Avoid the Void
2009 Godse – An Assassin Speaks Hindi/English Actor/Co-Director Nathuram Godse’s Monologue
2009 On Vacation English Actor/Director Written by Sachin Kundalkar
2009 Ek Se Badhkar Ek Hindi Actor Adapted from Sankaramanchi Parthasarathy Abbey Em Ledu
2009 Gandhari Hindi Director Written by Dharamvir Bharati
2008 Main Rahi Masoom Hindi/Urdu Actor Based on the life of Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza. Staged 50 shows so far.
2008 Neem Hakim Khatar e Jaan Hindi Actor/Director Adaptation of Molière’s The Doctor In Spite Of Himself (Le Médecin malgré lui)
2008 Kashmakash Hindi Director/Actor Written by Junaid Ullah
2007 Shanivaar ke Do Baje Hindi Actor Written by Surendra Verma
2006 Goodbye Swami Hindi Actor Written by Susheel Kumar Singh
2006 Atmahatya ki Dukaan Hindi Director Written by Asha Varma
2005 Kissa Karodimal Ki Laash Ka Deccani/Hyderabadi Actor/Director Diwakar Babu’s Telugu play Kundeti Kommu. Adapted and translated by Anant Kulkarni.
2005 Room No 13 Block No 14 Hindi Actor Written by Srikanth Sinkar
2005 Kisi Aur ka Sapna Hindi Director Written by Nand Kishore Acharya
2005 Andhon ka Haathi Hindi Director Written by Sharad Joshi
2004 Main Nathuram Godse Hindi Actor/Co-Director Pradeep Dalvi’s Marathi play translated by Shanta Kulkarni
2004 Teen Apahij Hindi Director Written by Vipin Agarwal
2004 The Phoenix Hindi Director Written by Abhijit Sircar
2004 Chakravyuha Hindi Director Written by Rajesh Dhabre
2002 Inspector Matadeen Chand Par Hindi Actor Written by Harishankar Parsai
2002 Hay Mera Dil Hindi Director Written by Ranbir Singh
2001 Prastaav Hindi Actor/Director Anton Chekhov’s “The Proposal” adapted in Hindi by *Anant Kulkarni*
2001 Budh Kaam Shudh Hindi Director Written by I. S. Johar
2000 Saiyan Bhaye Kotwal Hindi Actor Adapted from the Marathi folk form Tamasha
2000 Kisi ko toh Jaana Hoga Hindi Actor/Director Based on Subhash Parkhi's Marathi play Kalpana, translated in Hindi by Anant Kulkarni
1980 Coffee House Mein Intezaar Hindi Actor Directed by Dr. D.K. Goel
Aarop Hindi Actor Written by Suresh Khare, adapted by Anant Kulkarni
Bus Stop Marathi Actor A workshop production
Deathwatch Hindi Actor
Four Dimensions Hindi/English Actor/Director Collage of 4 short plays including Dharamvir Bharati's Andha Yug
Gadha Ya Aadmi Hindi Voice-over Leather puppetry show
Gandhi Ambedkar Hindi Actor/Co-Director Written by Dr. Premanand Gajvi
Natasamrat Hindi Actor Written by Kusumagraj
Pushp Hindi Actor Directed by Dr. Rammohan Holagundi
Stronger Than Superman Hindi Actor Written by Roy Kift, adapted by Anant Kulkarni
Five English Actor Written by Shreekumar Varma
Jungle Book English Actor Directed by Vaishali Bisht
Krapp ke Antim Shabd Hindi Actor Based on Samuel Beckett’s "Krapp's Last Tapes", translated by Vijay Ahluwalia
Aage Daudo Hindi Actor Based on Baban Prabhu’s Marathi play, adapted by Anant Kulkarni
Guddi Pappu aur Munna Hindi Actor Based on Volker Ludwig’s Max und Milli, adapted by Anant Kulkarni
Langda Ghoda Hindi Actor Written by Kadir Zaman
Kaath ka Ghoda Hindi Actor Written by Manoranjan Das
White Rabbit Red Rabbit Hindi Actor Written by Nassim Soleimanpour
Flowers Hindi Actor Written by Girish Karnad
Uttaraardh Marathi/Hindi Director Written by Vijay Mondke, translated by Anant Kulkarni
Phandi Hindi Actor/Director Written by Dr. Shanker Shesh
Ballabhpur ki Roopkatha Hindi Actor/Director Written by Badal Sarkar
Raja ka Baaja Hindi Actor/Director Written by Safdar Hashmi
Interview Hindi Actor Written and directed by Dr. D.K. Goel
Mahatma Hindi Actor Written and directed by Lingam Pandu Pradeep
Tambe ke Keede Hindi Actor Written by Bhuvaneshwar Prasad
Aage Aage Premchand, Peeche Peeche Hum Hindi Actor Directed by Venugopal
Cyclewalla Hindi Actor Directed by Venugopal
Brecht ke Laghu Natak Hindi Actor Adapted from Bertolt Brecht's short plays

Workshops

Varma has been conducting Acting, Voice, Audition, and Body Language Workshops at Sutradhar since 1999 and has identified and trained more than 100 talents. Actors trained by him include Vijay Varma,[20] Sree Vishnu, Aditi Sharma (Ahana of Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki), Vijay Deverakonda,[21] Anand Deverakonda,[22] and Aberaam Varma.

References

  1. ^ "Guftagoo with Vinay Varma". Rajya Sabha TV. 21 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Eminent Personalities".
  3. ^ "Raktbeej Reality Bites". Deccan Chronicle. 14 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Solemn soliloquy: Vinay Varma on playing Rahi Masoom Raza". Indulge Express. 28 April 2017.
  5. ^ Ramakrishna, Lakshmi (28 March 2017). "'Kanjoos Makhi Choose': The miser and his miseries". The Hindu.
  6. ^ "A Valiant Showcase". Deccan Chronicle. 23 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Sutradhar's Oleanna — A Reflection On Academic Power Play". Times of India. 25 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Hyderabad's play Main Rahi Masoom goes global". 25 June 2014.
  9. ^ "A glimpse of life vis-a-vis death". 21 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Artiste".
  11. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (14 March 2022). "'Qubool Hai' web series review: The Telugu-Dakhani series scores on some fronts and engages partially". The Hindu.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Theatre".
  14. ^ "A glimpse of life vis-a-vis death". 21 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Dushala's unspoken truth". 7 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Theatre stands tall: Thespian Vinay Varma". 25 March 2022 – via The New Indian Express.
  17. ^ "Sutradhar presents 'Weekend' Hindi theatre-plays Play in Hyderabad Tickets".
  18. ^ "Make way for some Slapstick comedy". www.newindianexpress.com. 11 November 2021.
  19. ^ Sripada, Krishna (6 August 2019). "'Andhere Mein' : A dark comedy, quite literally!". The Hindu.
  20. ^ "I'm in safe hands". New Indian Express. 19 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Interview with Vijay Devarakonda". telugu360. 15 August 2016.
  22. ^ "Dorasani Actor Vinay Varma About Anand Devarakonda | Vinay Varma Interview | Friday Poster". YouTube. 14 July 2019.
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