Rana Naidu cast: Who stars in season 2 of Netflix's Indian remake of Ray Donovan?
The crime thriller returns for round two.
Rana Naidu, Netflix's Indian remake of hit US crime series Ray Donovan, returns to the streamer for its second season, which is "grittier, darker and messier than ever".
"When the fixer’s own world starts to spiral, the rules change," reads the official synopsis. "And this time, Rana is not just cleaning up for his clients."
With his own family at risk, this time it's personal.
"Rana is on the brink, desperate to pull off one final, high-stakes fix that could secure his family’s future," continues the logline.
"Can Rana tame the storm called Rauf [his new adversary]? Or is this the one fix that will break him for good? The clock is ticking. The walls are closing in. And for the Naidus, it's war – with Rauf at their heels."
A number of faces have returned for the second chapter, plus some new additions too.
Here's your guide to the key players in Netflix's Rana Naidu, inspired by the hit Showtime thriller Ray Donovan.
Rana Daggubati plays Rana Naidu
Based on Liev Schreiber's Ray Donovan
Who is Rana Naidu? Rana is known as a 'fixer' – someone who has built a career getting Bollywood stars out of trouble, no matter how serious. But his own life spirals into chaos in season 1 when his criminal father is unexpectedly released early from prison, causing turmoil within the Naidu family. And Rana's life is just as turbulent in season 2 when a new foe arrives on the scene, placing his loved ones in danger.
What else has Rana Daggubati been in? Daggubati is one of India's most famous actors, known for starring in action epics Baahubali: The Beginning and its 2017 sequel, with the latter becoming the highest-grossing film in the nation's history. He also provided the Telugu dub for Thanos in Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
Venkatesh Daggubati plays Naga Naidu
Based on Jon Voight's Michael 'Mickey' Donovan
Who is Naga Naidu? Naga is Rana's father, whose jail sentence was abruptly cut short. He immediately set about wrestling control of the family away from his son, which unsurprisingly caused major friction between them. But will they find themselves uniting in a bid to take down a new enemy in season 2?
What else has Venkatesh Daggubati been in? Venkatesh is the real-life uncle of Rana Daggubati. He is a successful actor in his own right, with his recent credits including Prime Video original Narappa as well as comedy franchise Fun and Frustration.
Surveen Chawla plays Naina Naidu
Based on Paula Malcomson's Abigail 'Abby' Donovan
Who is Naina Naidu? Rana's wife, who's described as "sometimes" loving.
What else has Surveen Chawla been in? Her recent credits include Netflix comedy Decoupled and the Indian adaptation of action series 24.
Sushant Singh plays Tej Naidu
Based on Eddie Marsan's Terrence 'Terry' Donovan
Who is Tej Naidu? Tej is Rana's older brother, known for being the most level-headed member of the family.
What else has Sushant Singh been in? Singh broke out in the cast of acclaimed Indian thriller Jungle, with more recent projects including Disney+ original Good Luck Jerry.
Abhishek Banerjee plays Jaffa Naidu
Based on Dash Mihok's Brendan 'Bunchy' Donovan
Who is Jaffa? Jaffa is Rana's younger brother, who has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
What else has Abhishek Banerjee been in? Previously, he appeared in sports drama Rashmi Rocket and comedy series PariWar.
Ashish Vidyarthi plays Raj Naidu
Not directly based on a Ray Donovan character.
Who is Raj Naidu? Raj is the brother of Naga and uncle to Rana, Tej and Jaffa. There was no corresponding character in the original Ray Donovan series, meaning his storyline is open to all possibilities.
What else has Ashish Vidyarthi beeen in? His most celebrated works include crime thriller Drohkaal and hard-hitting drama Minugurulu.
New Rana Naidu cast
Arjun Rampal plays Rauf
Who is Rauf? He is described as "a worthy adversary to Rana [who] will stop at nothing to settle scores".
"He’s the most terrifyingly real character I’ve ever played,” Rampal said (via EasternEye).
Rauf is unpredictable, violent, and entirely devoid of empathy, yet not completely soulless. What sets him apart is a surprising emotional sliver: the fierce love he holds for his niece. She’s the only one he protects without question. It’s the only time you see something human in him."
What else has Arjun Rampal been in? His credits include Rock On!!, Don and Om Shanti Om.
Additional new cast includes:
- Dino Morea (The Empire)
- Kriti Kharbanda (Housefull 4)
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Rana Naidu streams on Netflix.
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Authors
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
