Omi Vaidya
Encyclopedia
Omi Vaidya 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. 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.
. 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.
Vaidya commented on his background in a recent interview:
and Fun Run
.
film, 3 Idiots as Chatur Ramalingam (or "The Silencer"). He received strong reviews for his performance. 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." 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." 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."
2010 IIFA Awards
2010 Lions Club Awards
Indian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who is best known for his performance as Chatur Ramalingam or "The Silencer" in the 2009 Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film, 3 Idiots. 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.
Background
Vaidya was raised in Joshua Tree in Yucca Valley, CaliforniaYucca Valley, California
Yucca Valley is an incorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 20,700 at the 2010 census, up from 16,865 at the 2000 census...
. He graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts is a Visual and Performing Arts high school located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1984, the public, tuition-free school offers both college preparatory courses and...
and later attended the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
for two years. He next transferred to the Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and graduated with honors.
Vaidya commented on his background in a recent interview:
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 SurveillanceE-mail Surveillance
"E-mail Surveillance" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifteenth episode overall...
and Fun Run
Fun Run
"Fun Run" is the fourth season premiere of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-fourth episode overall...
.
3 Idiots
Vaidya's most notable performance is in a supporting role in the 2009 BollywoodBollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film, 3 Idiots as Chatur Ramalingam (or "The Silencer"). He received strong reviews for his performance. Vaidya auditioned for the role of Chatur while on a trip to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. After passing the first audition, he was asked during the second to read dialogue from Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a 2006 Indian musical comedy film directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It is the second film in the popular Munna Bhai series of Bollywood. Sanjay Dutt stars in this film as Munna Bhai, a Mumbai underworld don, who begins to see the spirit of...
. 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." 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." 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."
Awards
2010 Star Screen AwardsStar Screen Awards
The Star Screen Awards is an annual awards ceremony in India honoring professional excellence in film. The nomination and award selection is done by a panel of distinguished professional from the industry itself.- History :...
- Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian - 3 Idiots
- Won: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male - 3 Idiots
2010 IIFA Awards
- Nominated: IIFA Award for Best Comedian - 3 Idiots
- Won: IIFA Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male - 3 Idiots
2010 Lions Club Awards
- Won: Best Supporting Actor – Male - 3 Idiots
Actor
| Film/TV Show | Role | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrested Development | Rav Nadir | 2005 | The Immaculate Election The Immaculate Election "The Immaculate Election" is the thirty-sixth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael is surprised to find the house still a mess a week after the fumigation, which Michael had Lindsay call and arrange, long before Michael had begun hiding his fugitive father in the... TV Series |
| The Office (U.S. TV series) | Sadiq | 2005–2007 | E-mail Surveillance E-mail Surveillance "E-mail Surveillance" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifteenth episode overall... Fun Run Fun Run "Fun Run" is the fourth season premiere of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-fourth episode overall... TV Series |
| Rolling Rolling (2007 film) Rolling is a 2007 independent drama film about a diverse group of characters who are linked by the drug MDMA . The faux documentary takes a tough yet entertaining realistic look at how this drug affects relationships and responsibilities. The film had its world premiere at the San Francisco... |
Assar | 2007 | |
| Bones Bones (TV series) Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent... |
Hamid Hirani | 2008 | TV Series |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer... |
Unnamed Inmate | 2008 | Season 8 episode "Drops Out" (uncredited) TV Series |
| Life | Vairam | 2008 | TV Series |
| Kath and Kim | Prakash | 2009 | |
| Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight is the Daytime Emmy Award-winning American adaptation of the Japanese tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Ryuki, the twelfth installment of the Kamen Rider Series. It was brought to television by Steve and Michael Wang and produced by Jimmy Sprague through Adness Entertainment... |
Fish | 2009 | |
| 3 Idiots | Chatur Ramalingam aka "The Silencer" | 2009 | credited as "Omi" |
| Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji is a 2011 Hindi romantic comedy film, directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, starring Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Omi Vaidya, Shazahn Padamsee, Shruti Haasan and Shraddha Das in the lead roles... |
Milin Kelkar | 2011 | |
| Desi Boyz Desi Boyz Desi Boyz is a Hindi comedy drama film directed by debutant Rohit Dhawan, son of director David Dhawan. The film stars Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangda Singh in lead roles whilst Sanjay Dutt features in a cameo... |
2011 | | | |
| Players (film) Players (film) Players is an upcoming action thriller film directed by Abbas-Mustan, starring Bobby Deol, Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher... |
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 |