Dayanand Shetty

Dayanand Chandrashekhar Shetty (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian film and television actor and model, best known for his role as Senior Inspector Daya in India's longest-running television police procedural CID. He was inducted into the Gold Awards Hall of Fame in 2018. Career He is a sportsman-turned-actor due to a leg injury. He was a shot put and discus thrower, which won him many prizes in these sports. He was the champion of discus throw from Maharashtra in 1996. He has acted in many commercials and has even won awards as a theatre artist. He won the Best Actor award for his role in the Tulu language play Secret. He then auditioned for the role of CID officer in 1998 and was the one who got selected. He is known for his role of Senior Inspector Daya in CID. He along with actors Shivaji Satam and Aditya Srivastava are the main leads of the show. He has also written for some of the episodes of CID. In CID, Senior Inspector Daya is known for his immense strength, whose name is enough to make the toughest of criminals break down. Daya's signature dialogue in CID is "Jab Daya ka hath padta hai, to muh ke andar daaton se piano bajne lagta hai" (meaning "When Daya slaps, then a piano plays in the mouth by the teeth"). One of the most famous dialogues in CID is that of ACP Pradyuman asking him "Daya darwaaza tod do" (meaning "Daya, break the door"). This dialogue become so popular that it is even used in the film Singham Returns, which is one of the most appreciated scenes of the film. In CID, Daya is also critical in finding the clues to solve the case. Although tough in appearance, he is also soft-mannered and sympathetic in nature and is always the first one to support team members and others when they need it the most. Shetty has acted in TV commercials, plays and films. He also won the "Best Looking Guy" vote, conducted by Indian Television in 2002. He also participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 4), dance reality show.