After Cinema Bandi success, I came a long way: Rag Mayur

Rag Mayur is one of the promising talents around. The actor who always looks for quirkiness in the scripts is glad that his 2021 blockbuster film, Cinema Bandi, completes five years this Friday (May 15). He expresses gratitude to director Praveen Kandregula and producers Raj & DK for the opportunity.

“I think I was lucky to get a terrific role like Maridesh Babu in my first film itself, I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. Cinema Bandi is certainly my claim to fame,” shares Rag Mayur who reveals that the film’s success opened a new chapter in his acting career.

If Cinema Bandi is a break-through film for Rag Mayur, subsequent films like Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra, Keedaa Cola and Gandhi Tatha Chettu helped him connect with the youthful and family audiences. But it was Sivarapalli (2025), the Telugu remake of the popular Hindi web series Panchayat, that proved that he can shoulder a project from start to finish. “I was brimming with confidence after the super success of Sivarapalli. Many Filmmakers approached me stating that they envisioned a certain character keeping me in mind. As an actor, filmmakers writing characters for me is a great validation. Since I also did theatre, it gave me an edge in exploring various possibilities in acting and improved my craft.”

Last year, Rag Mayur was also part of the blockbuster Shubam, produced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu. “It was a cameo, but it’s always great to be part of a blockbuster film. I am thankful to Samantha garu for the opportunity.” In the social drama Paradha, starring Anupama Parameswaran, the unexpected character flip his role (Rajesh) gets is a surprise package. Also, his spoken English one-liners in the comic caper Mithra Mandali went viral too.

And in his upcoming film, Garividi Lakshmi, directed by Gowri Naidu Jammu, Rag Mayur plays a Burra Katha artist. “It’s an exciting and challenging role, and there was a lot that went into prepping up for the part,” says the actor who feels proud of his filmography. “I am blessed to work with top filmmakers and technicians at an early stage of my career. I wanted to work on realistic films that emphasize emotional and raw narratives.”