Dayahang Rai

Dayahang Rai (Nepali: दयाहाङ् राई) is a Nepalese actor, director and play writer known for his work in Nepali cinemas. He is one of the most popular and acclaimed actors in Nepal. He has starred in 40 plus films and is one of the leading contemporary actors in Nepal.

Dayahang Rai
दयाहाङ् राई
Dayahang Rai at International Theater Festival 2019
Born
Daya

(1979-08-06) 6 August 1979
CitizenshipNepalese
OccupationActor, Director, Play writer
Years active2002–present
OrganisationMandala Theatre, Nepal
Spouse(s)Benuka Rai (2006–present)
ChildrenSamdung Hang Rai
Parent(s)Tilakram Rai
Chandra Devi Rai

Dayahang rose to prominence from the television series Yuva, Dalan and Hamro Team. His first leading role in a film was in Anagarik (2006) and had only one successful film Dasdhunga (2010) to his name but the 2012 Industry Hit film Loot (2012) marked turning point in his career and since then has starred in successful films Chhadke (2013), Badhshala (2013), Karkash (2013), Jholey (2014), Kabaddi (2013) and its sequels Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015) and Kabbadi Kabbadi Kabbadi (2019), Talakjung vs Tulke (2014), Woda Number 6 (2015), How Funny (2016), Bir Bikram (2016), Loot 2 (2017), Kaanchi (2018) and Jatrai Jatra (2019). He has starred in the film White Sun (2016) which was his first film that was entry of Nepal for Academy Awards.

Dayahang Rai is also the recipient of numerous awards including three National Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for Dasdhunga, Best Actor in 2015 for Sambodhan,[1][2] and Best Actor in 2016 for Kabaddi Kabaddi.

Early life

Dayahang Rai was born on 6 August 1981, in a remote village in Bhojpur district in Eastern Nepal. He belonged to a middle-class family of seven members. His father had two wives. Dayahang has two younger sisters and an elder brother, Bidur Lamichhane Rai. Dayahang completed his lower secondary-level study from Pashupati Lower Secondary School in Khawa VDC, Bhojpur District, and his high school from Annapurna Secondary School, Dilpa, in 1998.

He was inspired by his mother, who used to narrate him numerous fairy tales in his childhood. Dayahang started acting from his schooldays. He completed his intermediate-level studies at Bhojpur Multiple College, with geography as the major subject. He came to Kathmandu in 2001 and joined the Nepal Maanawiki Campus (then RR Campus) as a journalism major. He could not do well in studies. He then moved towards theatre and stage shows.[3]

Acting career

Theatre

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.

Films

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]

Personal life

Dayahang Rai is married to Nepali singer Benuka Rai (2006). They have a son named Samduhang Rai.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Film Result
2009 National Film Awards (Nepal) Best supporting actor Dasdhunga Won
2015 National Film Awards (Nepal) Best actor Sambodhan Won
2016 National Film Awards (Nepal) Best actor Kabaddi Kabaddi Won
2016 LG Award Best actor Kabaddi Kabaddi Won[16]

References

Videos

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