- Omi Vaidya
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Omi Vaidya 
Omi Vaidya while promoting Dil Toh Baccha Hai JiBorn Omi Vaidya
January 10, 1982
Yucca Valley, California, U.S.Occupation Actor, Director, Editor, Writer, Television presenter Years active 2003–present Spouse Minal Patel[1] Omi Vaidya (Marathi: ओमी वैद्य) is an Indian American actor who is best known for his performance as Chatur Ramalingam or "The Silencer" in the 2009 Bollywood film, 3 Idiots.[2] In addition, Vaidya has directed two short films and worked as an editor on others. He has also appeared in a number of television programs and commercials.[3]
Contents
Background
Vaidya was raised in Joshua Tree in Yucca Valley, California.[4] He graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and later attended the University of California, Santa Cruz for two years. He next transferred to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and graduated with honors.[2]
Vaidya commented on his background in a recent interview:
I live in Los Angeles, USA. That's where I grew up, but every year we used to come to India. My native place in India is Goa and I also did visit Mumbai quite often during my growing up days. I started acting when I was about six in Marathi mandal nataks and some English plays in the US. I learned more about acting in high school and that's when I became really serious about films as a career. I went to NYU film school and learned the ropes of filmmaking, editing, acting etc. I learned the technical language used on the sets. After graduating in honors from NYU, I went back to Los Angeles and began auditioning for roles in T.V. serials and films.[5]Personal life
Vaidya married Minal Patel on August 22, 2009.
Career
After college, Vaidya began to work with an agent and received small roles in television programs, and commercials. After receiving a small role in Arrested Development, he was also asked to audition for the role of Sadiq for The Office (U.S. TV series) by the same casting director. He portrayed Sadiq in two episodes, E-mail Surveillance and Fun Run.
3 Idiots
Vaidya's most notable performance is in a supporting role in the 2009 Bollywood film, 3 Idiots as Chatur Ramalingam (or "The Silencer"). He received strong reviews for his performance.[6][7] Vaidya auditioned for the role of Chatur while on a trip to Mumbai. After passing the first audition, he was asked during the second to read dialogue from Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Vaidya states that he "just rattled it off without exactly understanding the words ... almost like the speech scene in [3 Idiots]." After being hired for the part of Chatur, he was told not to study Hindi, not to watch Hindi films, and to gain weight. Of his success in the film, Vaidya credits the atmosphere of the cast and crew stating that in Mumbai there is "a personal touch, unlike Hollywood. Even if they don’t pay you by the hour and there is no extra time, there is warmth and care. I basically saw my Bollywood innings as a challenge. A lot of credit also goes to Raju and Abhijat Joshi for the way the character came across on screen."[2] He was also discouraged from providing interviews prior to the film's release. Vaidya states: "Before the film released, I asked director Rajkumar Hirani if I could give a couple of interviews. He stopped me saying nobody knew me and I should wait till the film is released. My role was a surprise they had planned for the audience."[8] Vaidya later recalled that, "When I was at the premiere of 3 Idiots, no one recognized me. I was a bit depressed but when it got over, it was difficult for me to even get out of the theater. I have been enamored by the love and appreciation I have received from the audience [...] Today, when I go out on streets, people come and shake hands with me… It feels nice."[9]
Awards
2010 Star Screen Awards
- Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian - 3 Idiots
- Won: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male - 3 Idiots[10]
2010 IIFA Awards
- Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Comedian - 3 Idiots
- Won: IIFA Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male - 3 Idiots[11]
2010 Lions Club Awards
- Won: Best Supporting Actor – Male - 3 Idiots
Selected filmography
Actor
Film/TV Show Role Year Notes Arrested Development Rav Nadir 2005 The Immaculate Election
TV SeriesThe Office (U.S. TV series) Sadiq 2005–2007 E-mail Surveillance
Fun Run
TV SeriesRolling Assar 2007 Bones Hamid Hirani 2008
TV SeriesCSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unnamed Inmate 2008 Season 8 episode "Drops Out" (uncredited)
TV SeriesLife Vairam 2008 TV Series Kath and Kim Prakash 2009 Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight Fish 2009 3 Idiots Chatur Ramalingam aka "The Silencer" 2009 credited as "Omi" Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji Milin Kelkar 2011 Desi Boyz 2011 Players (film) Sunny 2012 Ek Deewana Tha 2012 Jodi Breakers 2012 Director
Film Year Out of Time 2007 The Desert Rose 2007 Editor
Film Year Out of Time 2003 Delusion 2004 Bloodshed 2005 The Gold Bracelet 2006 Remember the Days 2007 Blind Ambition 2008 Cold Cabin 2010 References
- ^ Parkar, Shaheen (2010-01-11). "Wife's Chatur, too!". MiD-DAY.com. MiD DAY. http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2010/jan/110110-3-Idiots-Omi-Vaidya-Chatur-Ramalingam.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ a b c Don't typecast me: Omi
- ^ "Omi Vaidya: The 4th Idiot". oneindia.in. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/2009/omi-vaidya-idiot-281209.html.
- ^ "CMFH Interviews - Omi Vaidya". criticalmassfilmhouse.com. http://www.criticalmassfilmhouse.com/interviews/omivaidya.html.
- ^ "I don't want to play another Chatur" - Omi Vaidya
- ^ "Masand's Movie Review: 3 Idiots, satisfying not best". IBM Live. http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=107739§ion_id=8.
- ^ "Review: 3 Idiots". Kolkatta Mirror. http://www.kolkatamirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=10&contentid=20091225200912251642507296efb952§xslt=&pageno=1.
- ^ Idiot on the roll
- ^ Chatur of 3 Idiots a rage in Bollywood
- ^ Winners for Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2010
- ^ [1]
External links
Categories:- 1982 births
- American actors
- University of California, Santa Cruz alumni
- Living people
- Marathi people
- American television actors
- American people of Indian descent
- American actors of Asian descent
- American Hindus
- Hindi film actors
- People from California
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