Arun Rayadurgam: A Theatre-Bred Actor.

For actor Arun Rayadurgam, cinema is not just performance — it’s a continuation of the discipline he found on stage. With his debut film 1990’s now reaching Telugu audiences, Arun’s story is one of perseverance, mentorship, and an uncompromising love for the craft.

Theatre was his first training ground, where he spent years performing demanding roles that shaped his seriousness as an actor. At the heart of this journey stands Nassar, one of India’s most respected actors. Nassar sir not only guided Arun but also wrote and curated plays in which Arun performed. His encouragement played a defining role in Arun’s growth.

Arun’s association with Nassar went beyond the stage. He was cast as the lead in a Tamil film personally curated by the veteran actor. Though the project was unfortunately shelved after completion, it became an invaluable experience that reinforced Arun’s faith in his path.

Alongside theatre, Arun also built experience in cinema as a character artist in a few Kannada films, before stepping into the lead with 1990’s. An engineer-turned-actor, he studied Computer Science at Sathyabama University, Chennai, worked at HCL Technologies, Bangalore and later trained at the Balu Mahendra Film Institute.

Today, as 1990’s expands into Telugu, Arun stands as a serious actor shaped by theatre, polished by mentorship, and committed to carrying sincerity into every performance.

*Theatre Roots of Arun Rayadurgam* 

After completing his acting course at the Balu Mahendra Film Institute, Arun Rayadurgam found his true grounding in theatre. Choosing to work as a freelancer, he immersed himself in the vibrant stage culture of Tamil Nadu, gradually shaping his identity as a performer.

In his early days, Arun was associated with well-known theatre personalities such as Bagu, and also performed in productions curated by Veli Rangarajan, the renowned theatre critic and publisher of Veli, Tamil Nadu’s respected theatre magazine. His collaboration with Arunmozhi Shivaprakasam, another eminent theatre and film personality, became a defining point. It was Shivaprakasam who introduced Arun to Bagu, and together they built a lasting association.

Arun went on to act in several plays directed by Bagu, and eventually became an integral member of the theatre collective “Thinainilavaasigal.” With this team, he explored theatre in its purest forms — from stage performances to street plays addressing various social issues, traveling all over India to perform and connect with diverse audiences. This versatility, Arun believes, kept him humble as an actor, rooted in the reality that performance is meant for people in every space, not just within auditoriums.

One of the most cherished aspects of this journey was the support of Nassar, who opened his farmhouse in Chengalpattu as a rehearsal space for the group. His encouragement and involvement offered young actors like Arun the confidence to explore their craft freely.

Through these years, Arun’s theatre career was not just training — it was a way of life, a discipline that shaped him into a performer who values sincerity over shortcuts.