# Syed Sohel
**Syed Sohel Ryan**, known professionally as Syed Sohel and nicknamed "iSmart Sohel", is an Indian actor who works in Telugu films and television. He is known for playing Arjun in the [Star Maa](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-maa) daily soap *Krishnaveni*, for finishing third in *Bigg Boss Telugu* season 4 in 2020, and for lead roles in films such as *Lucky Lakshman* (2022) and *Mr. Pregnant* (2023).[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Syed Sohel Ryan, born 1991[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/) |
| Origin | Sources give Karimnagar, Telangana[3](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan), Hyderabad[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/), or Godavarakhani, which he names as his home in an interview[4](https://idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/sohel.html) |
| Television fame | Arjun in the Star Maa serial *Krishnaveni* (2016–2020); earlier serials include *Pasupu Kumkuma* and *Nathicharami*[5](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/december/hyderabad-english-edition-2022-12-30.pdf) |
| *Bigg Boss Telugu 4* | 104 days in the house, placed third (second runner-up) at the 20 December 2020 finale, walked out with ₹2.5 million (₹25 lakh)[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel) |
| Signature | The phrase "Katha veruntadhi" and the fan nickname "iSmart Sohel"[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel) |
| Notable films | *Lucky Lakshman* (2022), *Organic Mama Hybrid Alludu* (2023), *Mr. Pregnant* (2023), *Bootcut Balaraju* (2024)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/) |
## Early life and struggles
Sohel was born in 1991. Family sources name his father as Syed Saleem[3](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan), also spelled Syed Salim[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel), and his younger brother as Syed Sabeel[3](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan). Different sources place his birth or family origins in [Karimnagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/karimnagar)[3](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan), Hyderabad[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/), and Godavarakhani, where he says he learned Telugu[4](https://idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/sohel.html). Fans call him Singareni muddu bidda, a Karimnagar-region pet name.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/after-10-years-of-struggle-i-feel-like-i-have-finally-arrived-sohel/articleshow/80173155.cms)
His early path into acting was roundabout. He first wanted to be a dancer and choreographer, and only after dancing to film songs felt the pull toward acting.[4](https://idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/sohel.html) In interviews he has described working in catering and as a crew member at wedding events to pay rent and daily expenses while he pursued short films and then serials, before *Bigg Boss* brought wider fame.[7](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-actor-syed-sohel-works-catering-before-starting-film-career-1203139.html) He has said that during his leanest period he lived on little more than rice and pickle, and that despite more than half a dozen films as an aspiring actor, success did not come for years.[8](https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/syed-sohel-reveals-about-his-struggles-and-feels-sad-about-his-movies-results-144146)
## Television career
Sohel's early screen work ran through Telugu daily soaps. He played Rahul in *Pasupu Kumkuma* on Zee Telugu (2010–2014), Abhi in *Nathicharami* on [Gemini TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/gemini-tv) (2014–2016), and Arjun in *Krishnaveni* on Star Maa (2016–2020), the role for which he is best known on television.[5](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/december/hyderabad-english-edition-2022-12-30.pdf)
## Bigg Boss Telugu 4 (2020)
Sohel entered *Bigg Boss Telugu 4* in 2020 and spent 104 days in the house, finishing third at the grand finale on 20 December 2020.[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel) His physical endurance, strategic play, and the catchphrase "Katha veruntadhi" made him one of the season's most popular contestants.[1](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel)
The finale itself became the season's most discussed moment. Sohel first turned down an offer of ₹1 million (₹10 lakh) to quit the game, then changed his mind when the offer was raised to ₹2.5 million (₹25 lakh), saying he would give ₹1 million (₹10 lakh) to his co-contestant and friend Mehboob and donate to an orphanage. [Social media](https://www.edgepedia.org/social-media) allegations followed that Mehboob had prompted him to take the money.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/after-10-years-of-struggle-i-feel-like-i-have-finally-arrived-sohel/articleshow/80173155.cms) In interviews afterward, Sohel credited the show's hosts [Chiranjeevi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chiranjeevi) and [Nagarjuna](https://www.edgepedia.org/nagarjuna) at the finale with changing his career, saying the episode was a turning point for both his personal life and work.[4](https://idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/sohel.html) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/after-10-years-of-struggle-i-feel-like-i-have-finally-arrived-sohel/articleshow/80173155.cms)
## Film career
Through the 2010s he took smaller roles, including *D for Dopidi* (2013), *The Bells* (2015), *Cine Mahal* (2017), *Konapuram Lo Jarigina Katha* (2019), and the lead in *Eureka* (2020).[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/after-10-years-of-struggle-i-feel-like-i-have-finally-arrived-sohel/articleshow/80173155.cms)**Post-Bigg Boss films.** After the reality show, Sohel moved into steady lead work. A project with Mic Movies, the banner behind *George Reddy* and *Pressure Cooker*, directed by Srinivas Vinjanampati with [Roopa Koduvayur](https://www.edgepedia.org/roopa-koduvayur) as the female lead, was announced in March 2021 as his proper silver-screen debut vehicle.[9](https://telanganatoday.com/syed-sohel-ryans-movie-to-kick-start-shooting) He then starred in *Lucky Lakshman* (2022), *Organic Mama Hybrid Alludu* (2023), *Mr. Pregnant* (2023), and *Bootcut Balaraju* (2024), the last of which he also co-produced.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/)*Mr. Pregnant*, an emotional drama about male pregnancy directed by Vinjanampati and also starring Roopa Koduvayur and [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/suhasini-maniratnam), drew positive critical responses, with reviewers praising Sohel's portrayal of the character Gowtham.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/mr-pregnant-actor-sohel-requests-producers-to-re-release-films-on-weekdays-give-small-films-a-chance/be56c4e0e9430) At its promotion, Sohel publicly asked producers to schedule re-releases of older films on weekdays rather than weekends, arguing that weekend re-releases of big films crowd out small-budget productions whose producers have invested crores in projects with young actors.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/mr-pregnant-actor-sohel-requests-producers-to-re-release-films-on-weekdays-give-small-films-a-chance/be56c4e0e9430)
By his own account, the commercial results of his films have not matched his expectations, a disappointment he has spoken about publicly.[8](https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/syed-sohel-reveals-about-his-struggles-and-feels-sad-about-his-movies-results-144146)
## Off screen
Sohel has worked in playback singing, including the song "Ohh Manasa" for the short film *Motadi Pelli Choopulu* (2016), and he won the Brihaspathi Rising Star Award in the Sensational Star category in 2021 for his short-film work.[3](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan)
## References
1. [Syed Sohel – Bigg Boss Telugu Season 4 Contestant profile, HousePulse](https://housepulse.in/people/syed-sohel)
2. [Syed Sohel Ryan, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11112074/)
3. [Syed Sohel Ryan: Biography, Age, Movies, Family, Filmy Focus](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/syed-sohel-ryan)
4. [I want to be a complete actor: Sohel, idlebrain.com interview, 28 December 2022](https://idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/sohel.html)
5. [The Pioneer, Hyderabad English edition, 30 December 2022](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/december/hyderabad-english-edition-2022-12-30.pdf)
6. [After 10 years of struggle, I feel like I have finally arrived: Sohel, Times of India, 9 January 2021](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/after-10-years-of-struggle-i-feel-like-i-have-finally-arrived-sohel/articleshow/80173155.cms)
7. [Do you know actor Syed Sohel worked catering before starting his film career, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-actor-syed-sohel-works-catering-before-starting-film-career-1203139.html)
8. [Syed Sohel reveals his struggles, ABP Desam, 9 February 2024](https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/syed-sohel-reveals-about-his-struggles-and-feels-sad-about-his-movies-results-144146)
9. [Syed Sohel Ryan's movie to kick-start shooting, Telangana Today, 31 March 2021](https://telanganatoday.com/syed-sohel-ryans-movie-to-kick-start-shooting)
10. [Mr Pregnant actor Sohel requests producers to re-release films on weekdays, OTTplay, 19 August 2023](https://www.ottplay.com/news/mr-pregnant-actor-sohel-requests-producers-to-re-release-films-on-weekdays-give-small-films-a-chance/be56c4e0e9430)
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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: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license