Long Bio:

Rajeev Varma is a New Zealand-born Rajasthani/Punjabi. He graduated with a Diploma in Acting from The Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1995.

For the past 16 years, he has worked extensively in film, television and theater in New Zealand, and in 2006 he immigrated to the United States and has been producing his show D’Arranged Marriage in Manhattan for the last three years.

Theater
In 1995 Rajeev created The Rising Generation Theatre Company, through which he produced and acted in Play Lunch, Spies Spy or Die and Versus, all written by Toa Fraser. He produced the premiere season of Bare by Toa Fraser and also produced, acted, devised and starred in Look Me In The Eye at the Silo Theater in 1999.

From 2000–2002, Rajeev was a core member of the comedy troupe The Improv Bandits. In 2003, he toured with them to the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

In 2003, he created his second theater company, The Untouchables Collective, New Zealand’s first South Asian theatre company. With a company of 19 actors, writers and designers, the Collective premiered its first production, Yatra, at the Wellington Fringe Festival 2004, to sold-out crowds and critical acclaim.

From 2003 onwards, he created his third theater company, Those Indian Guys, with New Zealand comedian Tarun Mohanbhai. Those Indian Guys created D'Arranged Marriage and From India with Love and touredto Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa between 2003 and 2007. Those Indian Guys have forged a name for themselves in New Zealand as the face of South Asian comedy.

In 2009, Rajeev produced and performed in a five month sold out run of D’Arranged Marriage at the Huron Club at the Soho Playhouse. The show then transferred Off-Broadway to the Triad NYC where it sold out and ran for a three-month extension till the end of December 2010. In 2011, D’Arranged Marriage toured to Canada and Malaysia and in September 2011 it will perform in England.

Selected Stage highlights include: Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank, the New Zealand national tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Le Beau in As You Like It, Rajesh in The Taro King. In Taki Rua's production of Awhi Tapu by Albert Belz he won a nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” at the 2003 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for his portrayal of Casper.

Television
In New Zealand, he starred in 2 primetime comedy shows, The Millen Baird Show and New Zealand's first Indo-Asian sketch comedy show, 1000 Apologies.

He also appeared in the US as Brian the Call Center Operator in the HBO.com webisodes Got No Game with Paul Mercurio.

Other television credits include: Krishna in Xena: Warrior Princess, Young Hercules, Burying Brian, P.E.T. Detectives, Serial Killers, Mike King Tonight, Bogans, Shortland Street, Flatmates, Letter to Blanchy and Cleopatra 2525.

Film
Film credits include: 1nite, The Box, The Price of Milk, Toy Love, We're Here to Help, Summertime, Letters About the Weather and Curry Munchers.

Directing credits include: Painted Lips by Katherine Van Beek at the 2001 Wellington Fringe Festival, D’Arranged Marriage and Melting in Madras performed by H.R. Britton as part of the 2009 Frigid Festival in New York. Melting has been touring for the last two years through America and Canada.

Rajeev has also facilitated 3rd year graduating students’ solo shows at Toi Whakaari, New Zealand’s National School of Drama, working alongside Jude Gibson in 2003.

Short Bio:

Rajeev Varma graduated from Auckland’s Unitec School of Performing Arts. He created New Zealand’s first Indo-Asian theatre company, The Untouchables Collective, in 2003. Raj is one half of Those Indian Guys. Their shows have toured South Africa, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore. (www.thoseindianguys.com) Raj was a lead in New Zealand's first Prime Time Indo-Asian sketch comedy show, 1000 Apologies. (www.tv3.co.nz) US TV credits include Xena: Warrior Princess, Young Hercules and Cleopatra 2525. Film Credits Include: 1nite, The Price of Milk, and We're Here to Help.