Gagan Dev Riar, an Indian actor and accomplished theatre artist.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Gagan Dev Riar was born on August 16, 1980, in Pathankot, Punjab.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
With a height of approximately 175 cm (5 feet 9 inches), he possesses a commanding presence. His striking black eyes and black hair add to his charismatic appearance.
CAREER
Gagan Dev Riar made his debut in the world of acting with the television film “Sunsilk Real FM” in 2014, where he portrayed the character of Jawahar. This marked the beginning of his impressive career in both theatre and web series.
His passion for acting ignited at a young age, and by the age of 16, he was already performing in plays. To further hone his craft, he underwent formal training in acting through a two-month summer program at Ashok Kumar’s Academy Of Dramatic Arts in Chembur, Mumbai.
One of his notable early roles was in the Hindi web series “Not Fit” (2015), which premiered on the YouTube channel Dice Media and the OTT platform TVF Play. He played a key role in this series, showcasing his acting prowess.
Beyond acting, Gagan Dev Riar has ventured into other aspects of theatre, such as directing and music composition. In 2014, he worked as a director for the play “James Aur Ek Giant Peach,” a Hindi adaptation of Ronald Dahl’s novel “James and the Giant Peach.” He continued to impress with his versatility, taking on roles as an actor, music composer, and lyricist for the play “Ek Punjab Ye Bhi” in 2015.
In 2016, he acted in and composed music for the play “Dhat Pagli.” His contributions to theatre extended to the play “Bade Miyan Deewaane” in the same year, an adaptation of Shaukat Thanvi’s Urdu novel “Budhbhas.”
Gagan Dev Riar’s theatrical journey continued with his role in the play “Renovation” alongside Manjiri Pupala in 2017. He also acted alongside Mantra in the play “Piya Behrupiya,” a rendition of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
His involvement in theatre includes the musical version of Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding” and other notable plays like “Ishq Aaha,” “Phir Se Shadi,” “Parey,” and “Stories in a Song.” He has been an integral part of Om Katare’s theatre group “Yatri” for nine years, showcasing his commitment to the art form.
In 2019, Gagan Dev Riar made his mark in the Hindi film industry with a role alongside Sushant Singh Rajput in the movie “Sonchiriya,” where he portrayed the character of Khalifa.
His talent reached international audiences when he played the role of Pran Kapoor in the BBC television drama miniseries “A Suitable Boy” in 2020, alongside Tabu.
In 2023, Gagan Dev Riar took on a challenging lead role in the biographical web series “Scam 2003: The Telgi Story,” where he portrayed the convicted Indian counterfeiter Abdul Karim Telgi. To prepare for this role, he had to undergo a remarkable transformation, gaining approximately 20 kg of body weight.
In an interview, he revealed that he was initially chosen to play the role of Sitaraman in the web series “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story” (2020). However, due to scheduling conflicts, he was unable to take on the role, which was later brilliantly portrayed by Jamini Pathak.
Gagan Dev Riar’s journey in the world of theatre and acting is marked by his dedication, versatility, and a deep passion for the art form, making him a prominent figure in the Indian entertainment industry.
