Vinay Varma

Vinay Varma
Born	Hyderabad, India
Occupation(s)	Actor, scriptwriter, casting director
Website	www.vinayvarma.in

Vinay Varma is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, and casting director who primarily works in Telugu and Hindi-language films. He has been a part of more than 40 feature films in Telugu, Hindi, and one Hollywood film. ^[1]

Vinay Varma, founder of Sutradhar, started as an amateur theatre practitioner. His first play as an actor was Coffee House Mein Intezar in 1980, written by Dr Laxminarayan Lal. Since then, he has been involved with theatre.

In the early 90s, Varma left his banking job to pursue acting.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

In 1996, he founded Sutradhar Casting Agency Private Limited. It began as a medium to bring transparency to casting at a time when questionable practices were widespread. Over the years, it evolved into a platform that brings together casting, theatre, production, and acting workshops all under one roof.

In December 2024, Sutradhar celebrated 25 years of discipline, dedication, and lifelong learning. Tollywood stars Vijay Devarakonda, Anand Deverakonda, and Sree Vishnu joined the occasion. All trained by Vinay Varma, they spoke about how Sutradhar shaped their craft and their journey.^[7][8]

Vinay Varma has directed over 45 plays and acted in more than 50, with over 200 shows across India and abroad. Some of his performances include Natasamrat, Raktbeej,^[9] Main Rahi Masoom,^[10] Siyaah Haashiye, Stronger Than Superman, Main Nathuram Godse, Death Watch, Kanjoos Makkhi Choose,^[11] David Mamet's Oleanna.^[12][13] His play Main Rahi Masoom is based on the life of writer Dr Rahi Masoom Raza. Besides Hyderabad, Main Rahi Masoom has been performed in Kala Ghoda Arts Festival – Mumbai, 3rd Minerva National Theatre Festival – Kolkata, Pratyay Theatre Festival – Kolhapur, 12th Bharath Rang Mahotsav – New Delhi, 22nd National Drama Festival – Allahabad, 8th World Theatre Olympics-Chandigarh, Film and Television Institute of India-Pune. It was also performed in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bengaluru etc. Vinay Varma was also invited by the Society of Friends International, London, to stage Main Rahi Masoom.^[14] On 2 March 2018, Main Rahi Masoom celebrated its 50th show, at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad, India. He directed Sutradhar's debut Marathi play, Passwala. It premiered on World Theatre Day 2024 in Hyderabad. Passwala brings to life Jayant Pawar's (senior journalist & playwright) dialogue with a crematorium keeper in Worli, Mumbai.^[15]

As a Theatre Director, some of his well-known plays are:

• John Pielmeier's Agnes of God.^[16]
• Dr. C.H. Phansalkar's Isosceles Triangle.
• Birjees Qadar Ka Kunba, an Urdu adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba.^[17]
• Pinki Virani's Bitter Chocolate.^[18]
• Badal Sarkar's Ballabhpur ki Roopkatha
• Dr. Shanker Shesh's Raktbeej.
• Dr. Shanker Shesh's Phandi.
• Dr. Prem Janmejai's Sita Apaharan Case.
• Sagar Sarhadi's Kisi Seema Ki Ek Mamooli Si Ghatna.
• Surendra Verma's Maranoparant.^[19]
• Neem Hakim Khatar e Jaan, a Hyderabadi adaptation of Le Médecin malgré lui.^[20]
• Saadat Hasan Manto's Siyaah Haashiye (co-directed with Deepti Girotra).^[21]
• Ismat Chughtai's Ismat – Ek Aurat.^[22]
• Gandhi Ambedkar and Main Nathuram Godse (co-directed with Prof. Bhasker Shewalker)
• Mah Laqa Bai Chanda, based on the life of Mah Laqa Bai, an 18th-century Urdu poet and the first woman to have a diwan (anthology) of her work.^[23]
• Kanjoos Makkhi Choose, a Hyderabadi adaptation of The Miser.^[24]
• Nirmal Verma's Weekend.^[25]
• Dushala ^[26]

Varma has been conducting Acting, Voice, and Body Language Workshops at Sutradhar since 1999, and has identified and trained more than a hundred talents. Actors trained by him include Vijay Varma,^[27] Sree Vishnu, Aditi Sharma (Ahana of Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki), Vijay Deverakonda,^[28] Anand Deverakonda,^[29] and Aberaam Varma.

• Rahul Dev - Akasa Veedhilo
• Tinu Anand - Anji
• Nassar - Okkadunnadu
• Panchatantra Stories on CVS ^[43]
• Raj Arjun - Dear Comrade
• Ilavarasu - Donga

• Personal website