Dayahang Rai

After participating in the play Talakjung vs Tulke as an actor, Dayahang joined Actors’ Studio (a platform for theater artists in Nepal) in 2007. He is now affiliated to Mandala Theatre, Nepal, which he co-founded.

Dayahang first acted in the telefilm Yuwa.[4] He then worked in Dalan, another teleserial directed by Nabin Subba in 2003. The telefilm was later broadcast by Nepal Television in 2009. He got his first opportunity as a lead actor in Anagarik (2006), a feature film by Ram Babu Gurung that won two awards in the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival. Dayahang then acted in the romantic film Mero Euta Saathi Chha (2009) that was directed by Sudarshan Thapa. Dayahang received considerable recognition for his next role in the film Dasdhunga (2009). He received his first National Award for Dasdhunga for best supporting actor. He then played the role of a doctor in Acharya (2010), directed by Prashant Rasaily. He then acted in Mero Love Story in 2010.

In 2012, Dayahang acted in the hit Nepali film Loot. Dayahang also co-wrote the dialogues of this film. His character Gofle earned him good appreciation from critics and audiences. The film marked turning point in his career. He won the TV Filmy Popular Award for Loot. In the multi-starrer film Highway (2012), Dayahang was noted for his role in this film that dealt with a bus trip to Kathmandu during a strike.[5] The 2013 film Chhadke brought Dayahang and other well-known actors of Nepali cinema like Saugat Malla and Arpan Thapa together.[6] Badhshala (2013) marked the first of Dayahang's films on the Maoist-led Civil War in Nepal. The film was banned following objections from the Nepalese army.[7] In Karkash, released in 2013, Dayahang took the role of a drummer of a struggling music band.[8] In the critically acclaimed film Saanghuro (2013), Dayahang had a smaller but notable role. Dayahang and Aryan Sigdel starred in the suspense thriller Loafer in 2013. In Mukhauta (2013), some of the top actors of Nepali cinema came together such as Dayahang, Rajesh Hamal, Saugat Malla and Sunil Thapa.

Dayahang's two films Kabaddi (2013) and its sequel Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015) became huge hits in Nepal and abroad. He received his third National Award for best actor for Kabaddi Kabaddi. In 2014, Dayahang teamed up with Priyanka Karki in the commercially successful Jhole.[9] Dayahang won his second National Award for the film Sambodhan (2014) in the best actor category. The critically acclaimed Talakjung vs Tulke (2014) showcased Dayahang's versatility as an actor in the film that was set in the backdrop of the Nepalese civil war. In 2015, Dayahang acted in Fanko, a critically acclaimed film also starring Saugat Malla, Priyanka Adhikari and Keki Adhikari.

In 2016, Dayahang acted in the critically acclaimed White Sun (Seto Surya) based on the civil war in Nepal,[10] which was Nepal's submission to the 2018 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Dayahang acted in the Ram Babu Gurung film Purano Dunga (2016), which was a commercial success.[11] The sequel to Loot was released in 2017 as Loot 2 with Dayahang returning with the favourite character of Gofle.[12] Dayahang teamed up with Keki Adhikari in Ghampani in 2017, which became a commercial and critical hit.[13] The action thriller Lappan Chhappan (2017) saw Dayahang in the role of a police officer chasing a mafia.[14] In Taandro (2017), Dayahang acted in his fourth film on Nepal's civil war, which was critically acclaimed.[15]

• Interview with Dayahang Rai
• TV Filmy - Movie Loafer Coverage
• Interview with Dayahang Rai ECS Media ( View on Kathmandu)