{{Short description|Indian Kannada film actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Roger Narayan | image = | birth_name = Raj Narayan<ref name="A" /> | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1985{{ndash}}1993<br />2006{{ndash}}present }} '''Raj Narayan''' is an actor who works in predominantly Kannada and English-language films. He is known for playing the titular role in ''Hola Venky!'' and starring in ''U Turn'' (2016).
== Career == Roger Narayan studied engineering at BITS Pilani before deciding to pursue his passion of becoming an actor. He subsequently learned acting in several institutions.<ref name="A">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/making-the-uturn-home/article8393358.ece|title=Making the U-turn home|work=The Hindu|last=K.|first=Bhumika|date=24 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="T">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/hollywood-actor-is-hero-of-kannada-film/articleshow/50830489.cms|title=Hollywood actor is hero of Kannada film|work=The Times of India|date=24 January 2017|last=Suresh|first=Sunayana}}</ref> He changed his stage name from Raj to Roger so that he would not be cast in stereotypical Indian roles.<ref name="A"/> He started off as a child artist in Kannada films before played supporting roles in several English films and television shows before debuting as a lead actor with the quirky Indian English film ''Hola Venky!'' (2014), which was shot in India.<ref name="A" /><ref name="T"/> He garnered recognition for his role in the Kannada film ''U Turn'' (2016) as a sub-inspector of police.<ref name="A"/><ref name="B">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Tales-from-a-journeyman/article14513152.ece|title=Tales from a journeyman|date=28 July 2016|last=Joseph|first=Raveena|work=The Hindu}}</ref> He played the role of an iyengar in ''The Man Who Knew Infinity'' (2015) and starred in ''417 Miles'', another multilingual venture.<ref name="B"/> He starred in ''Humble Politician Nograj'' (2018) as a NRI politician.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/dec/19/roger-narayan-plays-outsider-and-conscience-in-humble-politician-nograj-3685.html|title=Roger Narayan plays an outsider in Humble Politician Nograj|work=Cinema Express|date=19 December 2017|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.}}</ref> In a review of the film, a critic noted that "Roger Narayan is a perfect fit as Arun Patil".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/jan/12/humble-politician-nograj-review-good-for-voters-right-in-time-for-polls-1752339.html|title='Humble Politician Nograj' review: Good for voters, right in time for polls|work=New Indian Express|date=12 January 2018|last=Sharadhaa|first=A.}}</ref> Roger Narayan made his debut as an antagonist in the Kannada film ''Chambal'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/a-suave-villain-well-roger-that/articleshow/68034688.cms|title=A suave villain? Well, Roger that!|last=Desai|first=Dhwani|work=The Times of India|date=18 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/roger-narayan-turns-anti-hero-for-his-next/articleshow/68654615.cms|title=Roger Narayan turns anti-hero for his next|date=31 March 2019|work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/roger-narayan-turns-baddie/articleshow/53364009.cms|title=U-Turn actor turns baddie|last=Suresh|first=Sunayana|date=24 January 2017|work=The Times of India}}</ref>
== Partial filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Language ! Notes |- | 1985 || ''Jeevana Chakra'' || Krishna || rowspan="3" | Kannada || rowspan="3"|Child actor |- | 1988 || ''Sangliyana'' || Kumar |- |1993 || ''Aakasmika'' || Raja |- |2010 || ''Keeping Up with the Guptas''|| Kumar || rowspan="5" | English|| |- |2011 || ''Happy Feet Two'' || Indian penguin || voice role |- | 2012 || ''The Test'' || Marcus || |- | 2014 || ''Hola Venky!'' || Venky || |- | 2015 || ''The Man Who Knew Infinity'' || Iyengar || |- | rowspan="2" |2016 | ''U Turn'' || Nayak || Kannada || |- | ''417 Miles'' || Srinivas || English || |- | 2017 || ''Vismaya'' || {{n/a}} || rowspan="3"| Kannada || Lyricist for "Kaaki Shirt-Ina" |- | 2018 || ''Humble Politician Nograj'' || Arun Patil || |- | rowspan="2"|2019 || ''Chambal'' || || |- | ''Punyakoti'' || Kalinga || Sanskrit || voice role |- | 2022 || ''DNA'' || Akash || rowspan="3"|Kannada || |- | 2023|| ''Diamond Cross'' || || <ref>{{cite web |title=Roger Narayan headlines Ramdeep's directorial debut, Diamond Cross |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2023/jul/08/roger-narayan-headlines-ramdeeps-directorial-debut-diamond-cross-2592499.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=8 July 2023 }}</ref> |- | 2025 || ''The Devil'' || || |- |}
=== Television === *''All television shows are in English, unless otherwise noted.'' {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="3" |2009 | ''House'' || Pundit || Episode "Simple Explanation" |- | ''Better Off Ted'' || Jim || Episode "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" |- | ''The Young and the Restless'' || Novich || 3 episodes (season 1) |- | rowspan="3"|2010 || ''Miami Medical'' || Mukesh || Episodes "Pilot" and "88 Seconds" of season 1{{efn|name=Miami|While his role in the episode "Pilot" is credited, his role in the episode "88 Seconds" is not credited.}} |- | ''How I Met Your Mother'' || Babaka || Episode "Blitzgiving" |- | ''Victorious'' || Dr. Bornstein || Episode "Rex Dies" |- | rowspan="2"|2012 || ''Weeds'' || Bandhi || 2 episodes |- | ''Incredible Crew'' || Mr. Narayan || Episode "Pancake Genie" |- | 2014 || ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' || Roger Ali || Episode "Allegiance" |- | 2015 || ''The Leftovers'' || Bhagat || Episode "A Matter of Geography" |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Outcome ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|References}} |- | 2017 || 64th Filmfare Awards South || Best Supporting Actor || rowspan="2"|''U Turn'' ||{{nom}} || style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/winners-64th-jio-filmfare-awards-south/articleshow/59192157.cms|title=Winners: 64th Jio Filmfare Awards 2017 (South)|date=16 June 2018|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=1 December 2018}}</ref> |- | 2018 || 6th South Indian International Movie Awards || Best Debut Actor || {{nom}} || style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/siima-awards-2017-mohanlal-wins-best-actor-vijay-entertainer-1021933-2017-07-02|title=SIIMA Awards 2017 Day 2: Mohanlal wins Best Actor, Vijay bags Best Entertainer|work=India Today|date= 2 July 2017}}</ref> |- | 2019 || 8th South Indian International Movie Awards || Best Actor In A Supporting Role || ''Humble Politician Nograj'' || {{nom}} || style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelivemirror.com/siima-2019-nominations-complete-list/|title=SIIMA 2019 Nominations: See Full List Of Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam & Kannada Film Industry|work=The Live Mirror|date=19 July 2019|last=Khandelwal|first=Stuti}}</ref> |}
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|1963145}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayan, Roger}} Category:Living people Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema Category:Indian male film actors Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Year of birth missing (living people)