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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Short description|Indian actor (born 1979)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vinay Rai
| image =
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Vinay Rai
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|9|18}}
| birth_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| othername =
| yearsactive = 2007–present
| spouse =
| website =
| notable role =
| occupation = Film director
| Spouse =
}}

'''Vinay Rai''' (born 20 September 1979), known [[mononymously]] as '''Vinay''', is an Indian actor, commonly appearing in [[Tamil language]] films.

==Early life==
Vinay was originally a ramp model in [[Bangalore]]. He played rugby for [[Bangalore rugby football club|BRFC]] and was part of the Indian squad that toured [[Bahrain]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/sportsmen-who-turned-towards-acting-in-kollywood/photostory/48376276.cms|title=Sportsmen who turned towards acting in Kollywood|access-date=29 March 2019|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

==Career==
===2007-2009===
He debuted as an actor in director [[Jeeva (director)|Jeeva]]'s ''[[Unnale Unnale]]'' (2007) co-starring [[Sadha]] and [[Tanisha Mukherjee]].<ref name="ModelActor">{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/vinay-going-places-tamil-news-30552 |title=Vinay going places |date=17 April 2007 |website=IndiaGlitz |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> The film became a huge success upon release and brought in more acting offers for Vinay. He was supposed to play the lead role in [[Gandhi Krishna]]'s ''[[Ananda Thandavam (film)|Ananda Thandavam]]'' but he was later replaced by newcomer [[Siddharth Venugopal]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/july-07-02/14-07-07-vinay.html |title=Vinay's 'Sivaji – The Boss' connection |date=14 July 2007 |website=behindwoods.com |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/may-07-03/19-05-07-vinay.html|title="Not just in Reel life, in real life too" - Vinay|date=19 May 2007|access-date=29 March 2019|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/oct-07-04/27-10-07-vinay.html|title=Sivaji's assistant starts on his own|date=27 October 2007|access-date=29 March 2019|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref>

Since his debut film, he has appeared in a [[Telugu language]] film, ''[[Vaana (film)|Vaana]]'' (2008), which flopped at the box-office and it was dubbed in Tamil as ''Gnabagangal Thalattum'' in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/dubbing-deluge-in-kollywood-news-tamil-nhlsiQahfeisi.html |title=Dubbing deluge in Kollywood! |date=11 July 2013 |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> Despite getting offers to act in romance films, Vinay stayed away from them and he stated that he didn't want to be stereotyped as a "chocolate boy".<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/two-at-a-time/article6868756.ece|title=Two at a time|date=7 February 2015|access-date=29 March 2019|author=Sudhir Srinivasan|work=The Hindu}}</ref> His second Tamil film ''[[Jayamkondaan]]'' (2008) was commercially and critically successful. Playing the role of an [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|NRI]] [[civil engineer]] who returned to [[Chennai]] to set up his own business, his performance fetched positive reviews with a reviewer citing that "Vinay, as the protagonist is very comfortable in his role. He has expressive eyes, emotes well, and makes sure his audience isn't disappointed".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/aug/29ssj.htm |title=Go watch Jayam Kondaan! |last=Pavithra Srinivasan |date=29 August 2008 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/kannan-to-direct-jeeva--news-54551 |title=Kannan to direct Jeeva |date=18 February 2010 |website=IndiaGlitz |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> In 2009, he starred in [[Saran (director)|Saran]]'s ''[[Modhi Vilayadu]]'' for which he dubbed in his own voice for the first time. The film, starring [[Kajal Aggarwal]] and [[Kalabhavan Mani]], opened to mixed reviews from critics and became a box office failure.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/itsy-bitsy-silent-moves/article6227.ece |title=Itsy bitsy: Silent moves |last=Nikhil Raghavan |date=20 August 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/modhi-vilayadu.html|title=MODHI VILAYADU MOVIE REVIEW|access-date=29 March 2019|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref> Three of his films including ''Veelle'' and ''Nootruku Nooru'' were shelved because the production companies went broke.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/nov-08-04/vinay-25-11-08.html|title=Vinay - too young to be a professor|date=25 November 2008|access-date=29 March 2019|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mirattal-in-jest/article3727480.ece|title=Mirattal: In jest|date=4 August 2012|access-date=29 March 2019|author=Malathi Rangarajan|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mysskin-is-probably-the-tarantino-of-tamil-cinema-thupparivaalan-actor-vinay4854865/|title=Mysskin is probably the Tarantino of Tamil cinema: Thupparivaalan actor Vinay|date=21 September 2017|access-date=29 March 2019|author=Ashameera Aiyappan|work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

===2011-2015===

He made a comeback in 2011 with a role in the English film, ''[[Dam 999]]'', which had a poor commercial and critical response.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news|author=Sharadha Srinidhi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-09/news-interviews/28122963_1_tamil-film-vinay-rai-unnale-unnale|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011407/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-09/news-interviews/28122963_1_tamil-film-vinay-rai-unnale-unnale|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|title=Vinay: I miss Tamil and Telugu cinema|date=9 March 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-for-actor-vinay-rai-a-part-dam999-was-just-an-experiment-1618430|title=For actor Vinay Rai, a part Dam999 was just an experiment - Entertainment - DNA|access-date=29 March 2019|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> The next year, Vinay appeared in the action comedy film ''[[Mirattal]]'' (2012), remake of the Telugu film ''[[Dhee]]'' (2007). The film, which starred [[Sharmila Mandre]] opposite him, got an average response. Vinay's performances received favourable reviews, with a reviewer citing that "Vinay Rai looks comfortable in his role and dishes out a neat performance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/aug-12-01/mirattal-review.html|title=MIRATTAL MOVIE REVIEW|access-date=29 March 2019|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vinay-celebrates-birthday-on-sets/articleshow/16516036.cms|title=Vinay celebrates birthday on sets - Times Of India|date=23 September 2012|access-date=29 March 2019|work=The Times of India}}</ref> In 2013, he appeared in [[P. T. Selvakumar]]'s comedy film ''[[Onbadhule Guru]]''. Upon release, the film was panned by the critics for its weak direction, poor execution and crude humour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/onbathula-guru-lesson-on-how-not-to-make-a-film-tamil-movie-review-news-national-ndjnOdjhbecsi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329122007/http://www.sify.com/movies/onbathula-guru-lesson-on-how-not-to-make-a-film-tamil-movie-review-news-national-ndjnOdjhbecsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 March 2019 |title='Onbathula Guru' - lesson on how not to make a film |date=9 March 2013 |website=Sify |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> The same year, he played a supporting role in the comedy-drama film ''[[Endrendrum Punnagai]]'' co-starring [[Jiiva]] and [[Trisha (actress)|Trisha]]. Upon release, the film won positive reviews citing that the film was "worth a watch" and a critic stated, "Vinay performs with no inhibitions in all his portions, be it comedy, dance or the emotional scenes and this film will prove to be a good vehicle for him to reach a larger audience".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-endrendrum-punnagai-is-worth-a-watch-south/20131223.htm |title=Review: Endrendrum Punnagai is worth a watch |last=S. Saraswathi |date=23 December 2013 |website=Rediff.com |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/endrendrum-punnagai/endrendrum-punnagai-review.html |title=ENDRENDRUM PUNNAGAI MOVIE REVIEW |website=behindwoods.com |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> Vinay then acted in the [[horror comedy]] film ''[[Aranmanai]]'' (2014) directed by [[Sundar C.]] which turned out to be a blockbuster.<ref name="silverscreen">{{Cite web |url=https://silverscreen.in/features/vinay-rai-interview-i-had-to-wait-11-years-to-shed-my-chocolate-boy-image/ |title=Vinay Rai Interview: 'I Had To Wait 11 Years To Shed My Chocolate Boy Image' |date=22 September 2017 |website=silverscreen.in |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> His next release was ''[[Serndhu Polama]]'' (2015), co-starring [[Madhuurima]] and Preethi Christina Paul, and directed by Malayalam film director [[Anil (film director)|Anil]]. The film, entirely shot in [[New Zealand]], was released to negative reviews.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/serndhu-polama/movie-review/46479360.cms|title=Serndhu Polama Movie Review|access-date=29 March 2019|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

===2017-present===

In 2017, he played a negative character in the crime thriller ''[[Thupparivaalan]]'' directed by [[Mysskin]]. The film opened to positive reviews with a critic from [[Sify]] claiming that "Vinay Rai as the ruthless baddie is a revelation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/thupparivaalan-review--solid-action-thriller-review-tamil-rjoqQedbaebef.html|title=Review : Thupparivaalan review – Solid action thriller (2017) – Sify.com|date=14 September 2017|access-date=29 March 2019|website=Sify}}</ref> The same year, Vinay played a dual role in the long-delayed film ''[[Aayirathil Iruvar]]'' again with Saran.<ref name="silverscreen" /><ref name="Hindu"/> The film opened to negative reviews with a critic from ''IndiaGlitz'' stating, "Vinay who just impressed with his heartless killer in ''Thupparivaalan'' can forget ''Aayirathil Iruvar'' in a hurry as both his characters are written wafer thin with no underlying subtext for him to score".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2017/sep/23/aayirathil-iruvar-review-an-all-round-rotten-drama-1661257.html |title=Aayirathil Iruvar review: An all-round rotten drama |date=23 September 2017 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/aayirathil-iruvar-review-tamil-movie-18943 |title=Aayirathil Iruvar review |date=23 September 2015 |website=IndiaGlitz |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>

His next venture ''[[Nethraa]]'' (2019) was a thriller film directed by [[A. Venkatesh (director)|A. Venkatesh]] co-starring [[Thaman Kumar]] and [[Subiksha]]. The film, which was extensively shot in [[Canada]], opened to negative critical response upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2019/feb/08/nethraa-review-10016.html |title=Nethraa Review: An awful suspense drama that leaves you cringing |last=Navein Darshan |date=8 February 2019 |work=[[Cinema Express]] |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Films ===
• '''''All films otherwise are noted'''''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role(s)
!Language(s)
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Unnale Unnale]]'' || Karthik
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|| Debut film; Nominated, [[Vijay Award for Best Debut Actor]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2008 || ''[[Vaana (film)|Vaana]]'' || Abhiram
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|| Telugu debut
|-
| ''[[Jayamkondaan]]'' || Arjun Sekhar
|Tamil||
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Modhi Vilayadu]]'' || Udhay Vasudev
|Tamil||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Dam 999]]'' || Vinay
|[[English language|English]]|| Hollywood debut
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Mirattal]]'' || Babloo
|Tamil||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2013 || ''[[Onbadhule Guru]]'' || Billa
|Tamil||
|-
| ''[[Endrendrum Punnagai]]'' || Sri
|Tamil||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Aranmanai]]'' || Murali
|Tamil||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Serndhu Polama]]'' || Abhishek
|Tamil|| <ref>{{Cite web|title=Serndhu Polama to Release on March 6|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2015/feb/21/Serndhu-Polama-to-Release-on-March-6-720027.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2017 || ''[[Thupparivaalan]]'' || Devil/John Richardson Holcha
|Tamil|| Nominated, [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-21|title=Mysskin is probably the Tarantino of Tamil cinema: Thupparivaalan actor Vinay|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mysskin-is-probably-the-tarantino-of-tamil-cinema-thupparivaalan-actor-vinay4854865/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Aayirathil Iruvar]]'' || Senthattikaalai,<br>Sevathakaalai
|Tamil||
|-
|2019 || ''[[Nethraa]]'' || Vikram
|Tamil||
|-
|2021 || ''[[Doctor (2021 film)|Doctor]]'' {{Dagger}}|| Shiva
|Tamil|| Completed<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-04|title=Shoot of Sivakarthikeyan’s Tamil film Doctor wrapped up, see pics|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/shoot-of-sivakarthikeyan-s-tamil-film-doctor-wrapped-up-see-pics/story-oDgLSGrhnBCviiRjshtL2I.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|''[[Etharkkum Thunindhavan|Etharkkum Thunidhavan]]'' {{Dagger}}
|{{TBA}}
|Tamil
|Filming<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madhu|first=Vignesh|date=2021-03-16|title=Vinay to play the antagonist’s role in Suriya 40|url=http://onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/vinay-play-antagonists-role-suriya-40/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=onlookersmedia|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=2587761|name=Vinay}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Vinay}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mangaloreans]]
[[Category:Tulu people]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]

Vinay Rai - Revision history

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2409:4072:997:45A5:3069:B5C:3CCC:6E6A at 05:09, 29 August 2021