# Prashant Narayanan (प्रशांत नारायणन)
**Prashant Narayanan** (प्रशांत नारायणन; born 1969) is an Indian actor known for villain and character roles in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) and television, and for work across Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films.[1](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prashant-narayanan) • [2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/prashant-narayanan/1063472/filmography) He is most widely identified with Dheeraj Pandey, the antagonist of *Murder 2* (2011), a performance for which he received the Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India[1](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prashant-narayanan) |
| Film debut | Girish, a hitman, in Hansal Mehta's *Chhal*; release year given as 2002 by Rotten Tomatoes and Bollywood Hungama, 2001 by IMDb[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan) • [5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/prashant-narayanan/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) |
| Television | Debut in the serial *Parivartan*; about ten years on television, including *Shagun* (2001), *Bandini* (2009), and *Phulwa* (2011)[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) |
| Signature role | Dheeraj Pandey, a killer in a transgender role, in *Murder 2* (2011)[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/dark-secrets-2/) |
| Award | Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for *Murder 2*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) |
| Languages | Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/prashant-narayanan/1063472/filmography) |
| Spouse | Shona Chakravarty[1](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prashant-narayanan) |
## Early life and behind-the-camera years
Narayanan was born in [Thiruvananthapuram](https://www.edgepedia.org/thiruvananthapuram), Kerala, and grew up in Delhi.[8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) He studied at Kirori Mal College of Delhi University and was a Delhi state badminton champion.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) • [8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) In Delhi he joined the theater group Act 1, whose members included [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashish-vidyarthi), Manoj Bajpayee, and Gajraj Rao.[8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) • [9](https://www.aniblogshere.com/prashant-narayanan-in-conversation/)
**Mumbai, 1991.** He moved to Mumbai planning to start an advertising agency, but shifted toward films.[8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) • [9](https://www.aniblogshere.com/prashant-narayanan-in-conversation/) He assisted art director Samir Chanda on Govind Nihalani's *Rukmavati Ki Haveli*, Subhash Ghai's *Saudagar*, and [Shyam Benegal](https://www.edgepedia.org/shyam-benegal)'s *[Sardari Begum](https://www.edgepedia.org/sardari-begum)*, and worked as a costume director on the television series *Chanakya*.[8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) His first acting break came through the actor [Anurag Kashyap](https://www.edgepedia.org/anurag-kashyap), who was then associated with him, and who arranged an audition with Bharat Rungachary for the Zee television serial *Parivartan*.[9](https://www.aniblogshere.com/prashant-narayanan-in-conversation/)
## Television and film debut
Narayanan spent roughly a decade on television, appearing in serials including *Shagun*, *Bandini*, and *Phulwa*.[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) His film debut was as the hitman Girish in [Hansal Mehta](https://www.edgepedia.org/hansal-mehta)'s *Chhal*; Rotten Tomatoes and Bollywood Hungama date the film to 2002, while IMDb dates it to 2001.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan) • [5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/prashant-narayanan/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) He played the lead role of Vishnu in *Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II* (2003), listed at 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan)
In a 2006 interview he said that despite appreciated performances he received few film offers, adding that in Bollywood actors with a television background were not treated as film actors.[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html)
## International and independent cinema
*Shadows of Time* brought him his widest international notice. The Bangla-German film was directed by Florian Gallenberger, an Academy Award-winning German director, and Narayanan played Ravi opposite [Tannishtha Chatterjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/tannishtha-chatterjee); Rotten Tomatoes lists it at 88 percent.[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan) • [10](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/i-dont-want-to-be-the-next-emraan-prashant-narayanan-77151-2010-06-21) He also appeared in Kaizad Gustaad's *Bombil and Beatrice*, an international production with Scottish actress Katie McGuiness shot in London and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.[6](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html) • [10](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/i-dont-want-to-be-the-next-emraan-prashant-narayanan-77151-2010-06-21)
In *Mr Singh Mrs Mehta* (2010) he played the painter Ashwin Mehta, a man unable to confront his wife's affair, opposite British-Indian actress Aruna Shields.[8](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/) • [10](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/i-dont-want-to-be-the-next-emraan-prashant-narayanan-77151-2010-06-21) He described himself at that stage as a well-established name in the independent cinema circuit, citing *Chhal* and *The White Elephant*.[10](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/i-dont-want-to-be-the-next-emraan-prashant-narayanan-77151-2010-06-21)
## Murder 2 and the negative-role reputation
*Murder 2* (2011) cast him as Dheeraj Pandey, a killer in a transgender role. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) described him, with his transgender avatar and killer attitude, as the surprise package of the film, and noted he was happy to take such a different part because it let him experiment as an actor.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/dark-secrets-2/) He won the Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for the performance.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910)
## Range across languages and genres
His credits span Hindi mainstream and independent films, [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema), and southern industries. Malayalam work includes *Idavappathi* (2016), which IMDb identifies as his first Malayalam venture, and *10 Kalpanakal* (2016) as Victor.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) • [2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/prashant-narayanan/1063472/filmography) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan) He played Jhumru in *Manjhi: The Mountain Man* (2015), the film about a man who spent twenty-two years carving a road through a mountain; it carries an 8.0 rating on IMDb from about 21,000 votes and is the best-rated work listed for him on filmi.ai.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) • [11](https://filmi.ai/person/prashant-narayanan) Later credits include the Kannada-language *Ghost* (2023), *Chidiakhana* (2023), the Hindi streaming series *The Night Manager* (2023) and *Rangbaaz*, and the 2025 releases *[Badass Ravi Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/badass-ravi-kumar)* and *The Secret of Devkaali*.[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/prashant-narayanan/1063472/filmography) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910) • [5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/prashant-narayanan/)
On television he alternates sharply different parts: in *Rangbaaz: Darr Ki Rajneeti* he played a disciplined policeman, and the same writing team then cast him as the gangster Wajid, a character referenced with [Dawood Ibrahim](https://www.edgepedia.org/dawood-ibrahim), in the second season of *Kathmandu Connection* (SonyLIV, December 2022).[12](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/kathmandu-connection-2-actor-prashant-narayanan-i-think-its-very-stupid-when-actors-say-that-they-had-a-lot-of-fun-on-sets/4180baba1e178)
## Working method
Narayanan treats the script as a reference rather than a fixed instruction set, preferring spontaneous takes that look less rehearsed.[12](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/kathmandu-connection-2-actor-prashant-narayanan-i-think-its-very-stupid-when-actors-say-that-they-had-a-lot-of-fun-on-sets/4180baba1e178) He works on one project at a time, does not multitask as an actor, and says most difficult characters come to him by choice of casting.[12](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/kathmandu-connection-2-actor-prashant-narayanan-i-think-its-very-stupid-when-actors-say-that-they-had-a-lot-of-fun-on-sets/4180baba1e178) Outside acting he writes and composes songs, and has worked as an art director and costume designer.[9](https://www.aniblogshere.com/prashant-narayanan-in-conversation/) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan)
## References
1. [Prashant Narayanan: Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/prashant-narayanan)
2. [Prashant Narayanan filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/prashant-narayanan/1063472/filmography)
3. [Prashant Narayanan, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241910)
4. [Prashant Narayanan Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/prashant_narayanan)
5. [Prashant Narayanan filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/prashant-narayanan/)
6. [Television stars go global, Hindustan Times (17 May 2006)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/television-stars-go-global/story-YX9LQ4NpMPNMpUXbiVLoqJ.html)
7. [Dark secrets, The Indian Express (news archive)](https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/dark-secrets-2/)
8. [Interview: Prashant Narayanan, Glamsham (19 June 2010)](https://glamsham.com/bollywood/interview/interview-prashant-narayanan/)
9. [An Interesting Conversation – Prashant Narayanan – 2020, aniblogshere](https://www.aniblogshere.com/prashant-narayanan-in-conversation/)
10. [I don't want to be Emraan: Prashant Narayanan, India Today (22 June 2010)](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/i-dont-want-to-be-the-next-emraan-prashant-narayanan-77151-2010-06-21)
11. [Prashant Narayanan, filmi.ai](https://filmi.ai/person/prashant-narayanan)
12. [Kathmandu Connection 2 actor Prashant Narayanan interview, OTTplay (20 December 2022)](https://www.ottplay.com/interview/kathmandu-connection-2-actor-prashant-narayanan-i-think-its-very-stupid-when-actors-say-that-they-had-a-lot-of-fun-on-sets/4180baba1e178)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 2010s onward › Surnames H to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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