Rehan Mudannayake Actor Director Writer

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In this episode I speak to Actor, Author and Director Rehan Mudanayake. Rehan first found wider fame on our screens as the love interest in the film Funny Boy based on the book by Shyam Selvadurai. He was cast by the acclaimed and award winning director Deepa Mehta, when she remembered him as a set hand working for her 10 years earlier.

With no acting experience, Rehan won the part and dived into a story that Explores the sexual awakening of a Sri Lankan boy who falls in love with a male classmate, just as political tensions escalate in Sri Lanka.

Having an international childhood and spending time at a Catholic School in the UK, he fought to follow his dream into the arts. Rehan talks about why he loves living in Brixton and how it inspired him to writes every single day. He has written and directed several short films, including a new series called Cougar which he also co-stars in with Sri Lankan comedian Vidura BR.

Rehan wants to change the narrative on how Brown people are portrayed in film and brings a comedy and lightness of touch to deeper themes. We speak just before he is due to fly to LA to shoot a starring role in an upcoming film.

About Rehan

Rehan Mudannayake is an award-winning filmmaker and actor, based in London. He stars as Shehan Soyza in Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta’s Netflix film Funny Boy, based on Shyam Selvadurai’s acclaimed novel.

As writer-director, his films have screened at multiple international film festivals. His most recent short – So Long, Farewell – had its World Premiere at the 2024 Academy Award-qualifying Pan-African Film Festival in LA, followed by its International Premiere at the London Indian Film Festival, and its US East Coast Premiere at the Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying Rhode Island Film Festival.

Mudannayake is a graduate of University College London (UCL), where he was a Chevening scholar.

Links

Website: https://www.rehanmudannayake.com/

Cougar: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBtTqVLosqA/?hl=en

So Long, Farewell Official trailer: https://www.rehanmudannayake.com/so-long-farewell

Took It To The River: https://www.rehanmudannayake.com/took-it-to-the-river