Dayanand Shetty

Dayanand Chandrashekhar Shetty (Tulu:ದಯಾನಂದ್ ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ) (born 11 December 1969), also known as Daya Shetty, is an Indian model, film and television actor. He plays the role of Senior Inspector Daya in the Indian television series C.I.D. (since 1998).

Career

He is basically a sportsman-turned-actor due to 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 1994. 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 C.I.D.

In C.I.D Senior inspector Daya is known for his immense strength, whose name is enough to make the toughest of criminals to breakdown. One of the most famous dialogs in C.I.D is ACP Pradyuman asking him "Daya darwaaza tod do" (meaning "Daya, break the door") . This dialogue become so much popular that it is even used in the film Singham Returns which is one of most appreciated scene of the film. In C.I.D senior inspector 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 who is always the first one to support team members and others when they needs it the most.