Gagandev Riar
Biography
Gagan Dev Riar, born on August 16, 1980, in Pathankot, Punjab, is an Indian actor and theatre artist renowned for his versatile performances across stage and screen. He hails from a family with a rich artistic background; his father, Devinder Singh Riar, and mother, Raj Kanwal Riar, have been supportive of his artistic pursuits. Gagan has two siblings: an elder brother, Karan Riar, a choreographer, and an elder sister, Sonika Riar, a fashion designer.
Gagan's early life was marked by resilience. Following the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, his family relocated from Mumbai to Pathankot after their business was affected. They returned to Mumbai in 1993, where Gagan's passion for acting was nurtured. He completed his education at D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Mumbai, where he actively participated in theatre.
With over 15 years of experience in theatre, Gagan has collaborated with esteemed personalities like the late Pandit Satyadev Dubey, Sunil Shanbag, Rajit Kapur, Purva Naresh, and Atul Kumar. His notable stage performances include roles in "Piya Behrupiya," "Stories in a Song," "Monsoon Wedding: The Musical," "Detective 9-2-11," "Aaj Rang Hai," and "Baaghi Albele."
Gagan made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with the television film "Sunsilk Real FM," portraying the character Jawahar. He gained further recognition with his role as Khalifa in the 2019 film "Sonchiriya." In 2020, he appeared as Pran Kapoor in the television miniseries "A Suitable Boy," directed by Mira Nair.
In 2023, Gagan garnered widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Abdul Karim Telgi in the web series "Scam 2003: The Telgi Story," directed by Tushar Hiranandani. His performance was lauded by both audiences and critics, with The Indian Express noting, "Gagan Dev Riar as Abdul Karim Telgi is terrific."
Beyond acting, Gagan has been recognized with the Vinod Doshi Fellowship for Performing Arts in 2013 and the Best Supporting Actor award for "Piya Behrupiya" at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards in 2014.
On a personal note, Gagan is in a relationship with Mallika Singh, a fellow theatre artist and co-founder of the clothing brand ESENEMES.
Gagan Dev Riar's journey from theatre stages to acclaimed screen performances underscores his dedication to the craft and his versatility as an actor.
