Dayahang Rai

Dayahang Rai (Nepali: दयाहाङ् राई; born 13 April 1980) is a Nepalese actor, director, and playwright. Dayahang is known for his uniqueness in Nepali cinema. He is one of the most popular and acclaimed actors of Nepal. He has starred in over 40 films and is one of the leading contemporary actors of Nepal. He has received various accolades throughout his acting career. Dayahang is a veteran theatrical actor who made the jump to Nepali cinemas.[1][2]

Dayahang Rai
दयाहाङ् राई
Dayahang Rai at International Theater Festival 2019
Born (1980-04-13) 13 April 1980
Khawa, Bhojpur District, Nepal
NationalityNepalese
Occupation(s)Actor, director, play writer
Years active2002–present
Organisation(s)Mandala Theatre, Nepal
Known for
Spouse
Benuka Rai
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2

Dayahang rose to prominence from the television series Yuva, Dalan, and Hamro Team. He made his film debut with Anagarik (2006). Dasdhunga (2010) was fairly successful, but Loot (2012) turned out to be the turning point in his career, which was a massive hit. Since then he has starred in many commercially successful films Chhadke (2013), Badhshala (2013), Karkash (2013), Jholey (2014), Kabaddi (2013) and its sequels Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015) and Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi(2019), Talakjung vs Tulke (2014), Woda Number 6 (2015), How Funny (2016), Bir Bikram (2016), Loot 2 (2017), Kaanchi (2018) and Jatrai Jatra (2019). The movie White Sun (2016) which he starred in, was the first ever Nepali movie entered for the Academy Awards.

Dayahang Rai is the recipient of numerous awards including three National Awards for best supporting actor in 2009 for Dasdhunga; best actor in 2015 for Sambodhan,[3] and best actor in 2016 for Kabaddi Kabaddi.

Early life

Dayahang Rai was born on 13 April 1980, in Khawa, Bhojpur district in Eastern Nepal to Tilak Ram Rai and Chandra Devi Rai. He is the middle child of the family. He has two younger sisters and an older brother. His family belongs to the Bantawa Rai people of Kirat ethnicity of Nepal. Dayahang completed his lower secondary-level studies from Pashupati Lower Secondary School in Khawa VDC, Bhojpur District, and high school from Annapurna Secondary School, Dilpa, Bhojpur in 1998. He completed his intermediate level studies at Bhojpur Multiple College as a Geography Major. He moved to Kathmandu in 2001 and joined The Ratna Rajya Campus (now Manawiki Campus) as Journalism Major.

Dayahang's mother used to tell him fairy tales as a child, which fascinated him greatly and fostered his imagination. He was interested in acting from his early childhood. He got into drama at school. Dayahang's heart was not in his studies, so he decided to follow his dream and pursue a career in theatre and stage.

Acting career

Theatre

After participating in the play Talakjung vs Tulke as an actor and Dhiren Raja as co-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 with Dhiren Raja.

Films

Dayahang's first foray into screen acting was Yuwa. followed by Dalan, a series directed by Nabin Subba in 2003. The series was broadcast by Nepal Television in 2009. He started his big screen career as the lead in Anagarik (2006), a feature film by Ram Babu Gurung, which won two awards at the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival. Dayahang followed it by starring in the romantic film Mero Euta Saathi Chha (2009) directed by Sudarshan Thapa. Dayahang received considerable recognition for his role in the movie Dasdhunga (2009). He received his first National Award for Dasdhunga for the best supporting actor. He starred as a doctor in Acharya (2010), directed by Prashant Rasaily and Mero Love Story in 2010.

In 2012, Dayahang appeared in the hit Nepali film Loot. Dayahang also co-wrote the dialogues in this film. His character Gofle, earned him positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film was a turning point in his career. He won the Popular Award for Loot. Dayahang gained more popularity for his role in the film Highway (2012).[4] The 2013 film Chhadke brought Dayahang and other well-known actors of Nepali cinema like Saugat Malla and Arpan Thapa together. 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 Nepali army.[5] In Karkash, released in 2013, Dayahang took the role of a drummer of a struggling music band. In the critically acclaimed film Saanghuro (2013), Dayahang had a minor role, but a notable one for sure. Dayahang and Aryan Sigdel starred in the suspense thriller Loafer in 2013. Mukhauta (2013), was a star-studded film that had critically acclaimed actors of Nepali industry like Dayahang, Rajesh Hamal, Saugat Malla, and Sunil Thapa.

Dayahang's two films Kabaddi (2013) and its sequel Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015) turned out to be massive 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. 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 against the backdrop of the Nepali 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,[6] 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 huge commercial success.[7] The sequel to Loot was released in 2017 as Loot 2 with Dayahang returning as the favourite Gofle.[8] Dayahang teamed up with Keki Adhikari in Ghampani in 2017, which became a commercial success and was critically acclaimed.[9] The action thriller Lappan Chhappan (2017) saw Dayahang in the role of a police officer chasing a mobster.[10] In Taandro (2017), Dayahang acted in his fourth film on Nepal's civil war, which was critically acclaimed.[11]

Personal life

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

Filmography
Main article: Dayahang 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[12]

References
  1. "Dayahang Rai appointed as the brand ambassador of NEUFF 2021". Republica. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  2. मियाँ, अब्दुल्लाह (19 September 2020). "दयाहाङ राई रेड पाण्डा संरक्षण दूत". Kantipur (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  3. Thapa, Alok (7 February 2012). "Hanging onto cloud 9, Dayahang Rai". Republica. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  4. Rapold, Nicolas (25 April 2013). "Riders Scaling Their Own Everests". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021.
  5. "Nepal army bans film charting civil-war abuse". Al Jazeera. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018.
  6. Kuipers, Richard (4 January 2018). "'White Sun' review: Powerful drama about people and a nation at the crossroads". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021.
  7. "Director Gurung back with Purano Dunga". The Himalayan Times. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
  8. "Loot 2: Excellent blend of revenge and humor". myRepublica. 25 February 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  9. "Entertaining Ghampani". The Himalayan Times. 15 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020.
  10. "Twists and turns keep audience hooked on Lappan Chhappan". The Himalayan Times. 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  11. "Taandro movie review: Why Dayahang Rai's fans must watch this masterpiece". Online Khabar. 13 November 2017. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020.
  12. "नम्रता र दयाहाङ उत्कृष्ट नायक–नायिका, रेखा र अनमोल 'पपुलर एक्टर'" (in Nepali). Online Khabar. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020.

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