# Arunoday Singh (अरुणोदय सिंह)
**Arunoday Singh** (अरुणोदय सिंह; born 1983) is an Indian actor known for Hindi films and streaming series, and also a published poet. He made his screen debut in the 2009 film *Sikandar* and became widely recognized for playing the cop Rudra Srivastava in the web series *[Apharan](https://www.edgepedia.org/apharan)* (2018–2022)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) • [2](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arjun-singh-s-grandson-ventures-into-bollywood/story-0XwefUwGfh629nBX0zZbRP.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) • [3](https://m.timesofindia.com/topics/Arunoday-Singh) |
| Family | Grandson of the late Congress leader [Arjun Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-singh-congress-politician), former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh; son of senior Congress leader Ajay Singh[4](https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/children-of-indian-lawmakers-find-stardom-outside-politics-1.1188027) |
| Film debut | *Sikandar* (2009), playing the Kashmiri terrorist Zahgeer[2](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arjun-singh-s-grandson-ventures-into-bollywood/story-0XwefUwGfh629nBX0zZbRP.html) |
| Education | Brandeis University; New York Film Academy[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/) |
| Signature role | Rudra Srivastav in *Apharan* (2018–2022, 21 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) |
| Award | e4m Play Streaming Media Awards, Best Actor in a Negative Role, 2023, for *Apharan*[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/) |
| Writing | Debut poetry collection *Unsung*, published by Penguin (2022)[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-write-my-memoir-101657346309156.html) |
## Background and training
Singh comes from a prominent political family in [Madhya Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhya-pradesh) but chose acting over politics, telling interviewers that he was not interested in the family profession[4](https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/children-of-indian-lawmakers-find-stardom-outside-politics-1.1188027) • [7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/arunoday-still-has-to-hunt-for-work/). He spent roughly nine years abroad, completing his undergraduate degree in the United States and training in New York and London. At the [New York Film Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-film-academy) and the [Actors Studio](https://www.edgepedia.org/actors-studio) he studied acting while supporting himself with odd jobs as a waiter, bouncer, freelance writer, and painter[2](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arjun-singh-s-grandson-ventures-into-bollywood/story-0XwefUwGfh629nBX0zZbRP.html). He has said his interest in acting began at age nine, when a school arts teacher screened *Dead Poets Society* and *On the Waterfront*[8](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/2011/Jun/17/arunoday-singh-actor-263694.html).
He stands 6′ 2¾″ (1.90 m) tall, a physical presence that has shaped the kinds of parts offered to him[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/).
## Film career
**Debut and early films.** Singh debuted in Piyush Jha's *Sikandar* (2009) in a negative role, playing a Kashmiri terrorist named Zahgeer who, in his description, had been "thrust into a life he never asked for"[2](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arjun-singh-s-grandson-ventures-into-bollywood/story-0XwefUwGfh629nBX0zZbRP.html). He followed with *[Aisha](https://www.edgepedia.org/aisha-2010-film)* (2010), playing Dhruv Singh, and *Mirch* (2010)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) • [9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arunoday-singh/). [Sudhir Mishra](https://www.edgepedia.org/sudhir-mishra)'s *[Yeh Saali Zindagi](https://www.edgepedia.org/yeh-saali-zindagi)* (2011), in which he played Kuldeep, earned him accolades; Singh has said the film "changed my life"[10](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/jism-2-a-marketing-genius-arunoday-singh-604276).
**Villain and supporting roles.** Through the 2010s he appeared across genres: the erotic thriller *Jism 2* (2012), the romantic action comedy *Main Tera Hero* (2014), the horror film *Pizza* (2014), the vigilante drama *Ungli* (2014), [Vikram Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-bhatt)'s *Mr. X* (2015), [Ashutosh Gowariker](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashutosh-gowariker)'s epic adventure *Mohenjo Daro* (2016), and Abhinay Deo's black comedy *Blackmail* (2018) opposite [Irrfan Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/irrfan-khan)[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/) • [9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arunoday-singh/). He has described the range as unplanned: he chose the best of the roles available to him rather than pursuing a genre strategy[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Apr/15/bollywood-underrates-me-arunoday-singh-5532.html).
In a 2018 interview Singh said his talent was under-utilized, attributing the limited number of lead roles to his lack of box-office success and his large build[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Apr/15/bollywood-underrates-me-arunoday-singh-5532.html). After *Blackmail* he said he felt "reborn as an actor" and that he did not regret any film he had made[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-consider-myself-any-less-successful-right-now/story-CBCtbzyxMHtkkPdceo3eZK.html).
## Streaming work
Singh's most prominent role came on streaming platforms. In Voot Select's crime series *Apharan* (2018–2022) he played Rudra Srivastav, an unruly but efficient cop at the center of a kidnapping plot that moved between India and Serbia in the second season[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) • [13](https://www.gqindia.com/story/set-like-playground-except-youre-getting-paid-arunoday-singh). The performance won him the e4m Play Streaming Media Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role in 2023[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/).
His other streaming credits include *The Chargesheet: Innocent or Guilty?* (2020), *Lahore Confidential* (2021), *PP Petals* (2022), and *Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein* (2022–2024), in which he played a mercenary across eight episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/) • [5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/). In 2025 he appeared in the JioHotstar series *Kanneda* as Sarabjit[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/).
## Poetry and other work
Singh published his first poetry collection, *Unsung*, with Penguin in 2022. [Naseeruddin Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/naseeruddin-shah)'s cover endorsement described the actor's "formidable physique" as housing "a gift for words"[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-write-my-memoir-101657346309156.html). Singh has called himself a "compulsive poet," said some poems in the book were written during the first COVID-19 lockdown following his divorce, and explained that he never titles his poems so readers approach them without a preset idea[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-write-my-memoir-101657346309156.html). He has said he does not intend to write a memoir[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-write-my-memoir-101657346309156.html).
He has also performed musically: his singing debut came in Naseeruddin Shah's theater group Motley's production of *The Threepenny Opera*, followed by a staged *The Sound of Music* in Mumbai[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-consider-myself-any-less-successful-right-now/story-CBCtbzyxMHtkkPdceo3eZK.html). He identifies as a sketch artist as well, and was working on a second book of poetry as of 2023[14](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/brunch/actor-poet-artist-a-peek-into-the-life-of-a-multi-talented-creator-working-on-his-second-book-of-poetry-artistlife-writing-creativity-101680895019743-amp.html).
## Personal life
Singh married LeeAnna Elton, a Canadian he met at a yoga retreat in Goa, in 2016; he announced their separation in May 2019[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/).
## References
1. [Arunoday Singh, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349461/)
2. [Arjun Singh's grandson ventures into Bollywood, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arjun-singh-s-grandson-ventures-into-bollywood/story-0XwefUwGfh629nBX0zZbRP.html)
3. [Arunoday Singh: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, eTimes, Times of India](https://m.timesofindia.com/topics/Arunoday-Singh)
4. [Children of Indian lawmakers find stardom outside politics, Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/children-of-indian-lawmakers-find-stardom-outside-politics-1.1188027)
5. [Arunoday Singh: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/arunoday-singh/)
6. [Arunoday Singh: I don't think I'll ever write my memoir!, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-write-my-memoir-101657346309156.html)
7. [Arunoday still has to hunt for work, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/arunoday-still-has-to-hunt-for-work/)
8. [Arunoday Singh, actor, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/2011/Jun/17/arunoday-singh-actor-263694.html)
9. [Arunoday Singh filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/arunoday-singh/)
10. [Jism 2 a marketing genius: Arunoday Singh, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/jism-2-a-marketing-genius-arunoday-singh-604276)
11. [Bollywood underrates me: Arunoday Singh, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Apr/15/bollywood-underrates-me-arunoday-singh-5532.html)
12. [Arunoday Singh: I don't consider myself any less successful right now, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/arunoday-singh-i-don-t-consider-myself-any-less-successful-right-now/story-CBCtbzyxMHtkkPdceo3eZK.html)
13. ["Being on set is like being on a playground, except you're getting paid for it": Arunoday Singh, GQ India](https://www.gqindia.com/story/set-like-playground-except-youre-getting-paid-arunoday-singh)
14. [Get to know... Arunoday Singh, Hindustan Times Brunch](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/brunch/actor-poet-artist-a-peek-into-the-life-of-a-multi-talented-creator-working-on-his-second-book-of-poetry-artistlife-writing-creativity-101680895019743-amp.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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