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's first foray into screen acting was Yuwa.[4] followed by Dalan, a series directed by Nabin Subba in 2003. The series was broadcasted by Nepal Television in 2009. He started his big screen career as the lead in Anagarik (2006), a feature film by Ram Babu Gurung won two awards in the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival. Dayahang followed it with 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).[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 Nepali 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 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.[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 with 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,[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 huge commercial success.[11] The sequel to Loot was released in 2017 as Loot 2 with Dayahang returning as the favourite Gofle.[12] Dayahang teamed up with Keki Adhikari in Ghampani in 2017, which became a commercial success and was critically acclaimed.[13] The action thriller Lappan Chhappan (2017) saw Dayahang in the role of a police officer chasing a mobster.[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)