Adhir Kalyan
Encyclopedia
Adhir Kalyan is a South Africa
n actor noted for his role in the CBS
sitcom Rules of Engagement
.
, is a member of Parliament
of the South African National Assembly where she represents the Democratic Alliance.
Adhir completed his schooling at Crawford College in Durban. Prior to moving abroad, he has performed a number of productions in South Africa, including theatrical adaptations of Charles Dickens'
Oliver Twist
and A Christmas Carol
, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's The Ground Beneath Her Feet
, and the classical Shakespearean play Macbeth
.
to pursue his acting career where he gained roles in the BBC series Holby City (series 8)
as Arjmand Younis, in Spooks (series 5)
, and on the Irish network RTÉ One
in Fair City
as Ramal Kirmani. Adhir also appeared in a number of independent films.
Kalyan starred in the short-lived American CW Television Network
sitcom, Aliens in America, as a foreign exchange student from Pakistan
living with a Wisconsin
family. He portrayed recurring characters in the fifth season of the cable show Nip/Tuck
, and in the third season of the CBS
sitcom Rules of Engagement
, becoming a series regular in the latter's fourth season.
In 2009, Kalyan appeared in the films Paul Blart: Mall Cop as Pahud, a teenager who admired his girlfriend, in Up in the Air
as a fired employee, and in the cheerleader comedy Fired Up
. In 2010, he appeared in Youth in Revolt, and in 2011 he appeared in a minor role in No Strings Attached.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n actor noted for his role in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement (TV series)
Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
.
Early years
Adhir was born in Durban, South Africa to an Indian South African family. His mother, Santosh Vinita "Sandy" KalyanSandy Kalyan
Sandy Kalyan is a South African politician, and a Democratic Alliance member of Parliament's National Assembly, where she serves as the Shadow Minister of Science and Technology.- Background :...
, is a member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
of the South African National Assembly where she represents the Democratic Alliance.
Adhir completed his schooling at Crawford College in Durban. Prior to moving abroad, he has performed a number of productions in South Africa, including theatrical adaptations of Charles Dickens'
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
and A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's The Ground Beneath Her Feet
The Ground Beneath Her Feet
The Ground Beneath Her Feet is the sixth novel written by Salman Rushdie. Published in 2000, it is a variation on the Orpheus/Eurydice myth with rock music replacing Orpheus' lyre...
, and the classical Shakespearean play Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
.
Career
In 2005, Kalyan moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to pursue his acting career where he gained roles in the BBC series Holby City (series 8)
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
as Arjmand Younis, in Spooks (series 5)
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
, and on the Irish network RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
in Fair City
Fair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
as Ramal Kirmani. Adhir also appeared in a number of independent films.
Kalyan starred in the short-lived American CW Television Network
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
sitcom, Aliens in America, as a foreign exchange student from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
living with a Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
family. He portrayed recurring characters in the fifth season of the cable show Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, and in the third season of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement (TV series)
Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
, becoming a series regular in the latter's fourth season.
In 2009, Kalyan appeared in the films Paul Blart: Mall Cop as Pahud, a teenager who admired his girlfriend, in Up in the Air
Up in the Air (film)
Up in the Air is a 2009 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. It is a film adaptation of the 2001 novel of the same name, written by Walter Kirn. The story is about a corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham and his travels...
as a fired employee, and in the cheerleader comedy Fired Up
Fired Up (film)
Fired Up! is a 2009 teen comedy film produced and directed by Will Gluck and written by Freedom Jones. The main plot revolves around two popular high school football players who create their lie to attend cheerleading camp for the summer and get close to its female cheerleaders.-Plot:Nick Brady...
. In 2010, he appeared in Youth in Revolt, and in 2011 he appeared in a minor role in No Strings Attached.
Filmography
- 2007 Aliens in America" - Raja
- 2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop
- 2009 Fired UpFired Up (film)Fired Up! is a 2009 teen comedy film produced and directed by Will Gluck and written by Freedom Jones. The main plot revolves around two popular high school football players who create their lie to attend cheerleading camp for the summer and get close to its female cheerleaders.-Plot:Nick Brady...
- 2009 Up in the AirUp in the Air (film)Up in the Air is a 2009 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. It is a film adaptation of the 2001 novel of the same name, written by Walter Kirn. The story is about a corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham and his travels...
- 2010 Youth in Revolt
- 2010 High SchoolHigh School (2010 film)High School is a 2010 comedy film starring Adrien Brody. It is the feature length directorial debut of John Stalberg, Jr. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010 and will be distributed in theatres internationally by Parallel Media....
- 2011 No Strings Attached
- 2009-present Rules of Engagement (TV series)Rules of Engagement (TV series)Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
- Timmy