Rehan Unveiled: A Creative Odyssey from Sri Lanka to LA

In this episode we delve into the fascinating journey of Rehan Mudannayake, a Sri Lankan Actor, Director, and Writer who made his screen debut in the film 'Funny Boy' directed by the acclaimed Deepa Mehta. Rehan recounts his unique path into acting, the influence of his diverse upbringing, and his commitment to changing the narrative around brown people in film. He discusses his creative processes, his life in Brixton, and his latest projects, including a comedy series called 'Cougar' and an upcoming film in LA. A charming guest who shares generously, tune in to hear how Rehan blends personal experiences with his professional work, bringing  a lightness to deep themes.

00:39 Meet Rehan: Actor, Author, and Director

01:24 Rehan's Creative Process and Life in Brixton

07:42 Rehan's Upbringing and Education

16:55 Breaking into Acting: The Funny Boy Story

21:33 The Challenges and Impact of Funny Boy

23:19 Bringing Personal Elements to the Role

24:22 The Three-Day Workshop Experience

25:01 Challenging Exercises and Emotional Depth

26:43 Physical and Emotional Impact of Acting

28:59 Handling Love Scenes 

31:46 Reception and Impact of the Film in Sri Lanka

33:47 Career Growth and New Opportunities

35:51 Creating the Comedy Series 'Cougar'

41:36 Exploring Familial Obligations in 'So Long Farewell'

46:17 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers

About Rehan Mudannayake

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

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rehanmudannayake

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

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

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

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

Dee Gibson is the award winning designer and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka, www.kalukandahouse.com ~ Conde Nast Best Places to Visit in Asia 2024 & HIP Hotels Best Hotels 2025. You can follow on
instagram @deegibson2017 or @kalukandahouse

This podcast lifts the veil on what, and more importantly WHO this island is with conversations about all the things you never read about in the travel pages. Dee showcases a fascinating modern society reclaiming their identity and taking ownership of their narratives on the global stage. No subject is taboo so expect guests talking about everything from activism through art and yoga, why sari was modified by British colonisers, a performance on love and lust to episodes on forgotten heroines being narrated back into our history books and much more.