Arun Rayadurgam: A Theatre-Bred Actor Who Found His Truth on Stage..
Varahi media.com online news, September 1st,2025: For Arun Rayadurgam, cinema is not just about performance — it is a natural extension of the discipline, sincerity, and rigor he discovered in theatre.
Varahi media.com online news, September 1st,2025: For Arun Rayadurgam, cinema is not just about performance — it is a natural extension of the discipline, sincerity, and rigor he discovered in theatre. With his debut film 1990’s now reaching Telugu audiences, Arun’s journey reflects perseverance, mentorship, and an unwavering love for the craft.
Arun’s foundation as an actor was built on stage. Theatre became his first training ground, where he spent years performing demanding roles that shaped his seriousness as a performer. At the heart of this journey stood Nassar — one of India’s most respected actors — whose mentorship left a lasting mark on Arun’s career. Nassar not only guided him but also wrote and curated plays in which Arun performed, offering both inspiration and direction.
Their collaboration extended beyond theatre. Arun was chosen as the lead in a Tamil film personally curated by Nassar. Though the project was shelved despite completion, it became a defining experience, strengthening his faith in the path he had chosen.
Alongside theatre, Arun explored cinema in smaller roles, appearing as a character artist in a few Kannada films. His true transition, however, came when he stepped into the lead role in 1990’s.
An engineer-turned-actor, Arun’s path to cinema was far from conventional. After completing his Computer Science degree at Sathyabama University, Chennai, and working at HCL Technologies, Bangalore, he pursued formal training at the Balu Mahendra Film Institute — a decision that anchored his artistic journey.
Theatre Roots and Collective Spirit
Post training, Arun immersed himself deeply in Tamil Nadu’s theatre scene as a freelancer, gradually carving out his space as a performer. His early collaborations were with theatre stalwarts like Bagu, Veli Rangarajan (the noted critic and publisher of Veli magazine), and Arunmozhi Shivaprakasam, whose introduction to Bagu became a turning point.
With Bagu’s productions, Arun grew as a serious performer and soon became part of the theatre collective Thinainilavaasigal. With them, he experienced theatre in its purest forms — from stage plays to socially charged street performances that took him across India. For Arun, these experiences were grounding. They reminded him that performance is not confined to auditoriums; it belongs to people in every space and setting.
Among the most cherished moments of this journey was Nassar’s unwavering support. The veteran actor opened his Chengalpattu farmhouse as a rehearsal space, nurturing young actors like Arun with encouragement and trust.
A Discipline Beyond Training
For Arun, theatre was more than just preparation for cinema — it became a way of life. It instilled humility, discipline, and a belief that sincerity in craft matters more than shortcuts. Today, as 1990’s finds its audience in Telugu, Arun Rayadurgam stands as a theatre-bred actor, refined by mentorship and committed to carrying authenticity into every role he performs.
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