Vedang Raina
Who Is Vedang Raina?
Vedang Raina is an Indian actor and singer whose rise in Bollywood has been nothing short of remarkable. He made his acting debut as Reggie Mantle in Zoya Akhtar’s musical teen film The Archies (2023), and has since starred in the action thriller Jigra (2024) as well as Imtiaz Ali’s romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026), his first box-office success.
In just three years and three films, Vedang Raina has worked with three of India’s most respected directors. He has proven that he belongs — not just as an actor, but as a musician too. Karan Johar, one of Bollywood’s most prominent producers, said it plainly after hearing Raina sing: “He doesn’t need autotune.”
Early Life: Delhi Roots, Mumbai Dreams, and a Tabla That Changed Everything
Born in New Delhi, Raised in Mumbai
Vedang Raina was born on June 2, 2000, in New Delhi. He comes from a Kashmiri Pandit family — one of India’s most culturally rich and historically significant communities. His family later moved to Mumbai, where he grew up and built the foundations of his career.
His connection to his Kashmiri roots remains deeply personal. In a candid interview, he spoke openly about visiting Kashmir despite tensions, saying: “Won’t let a bunch of cowards scare me.”
The Tabla, the Guitar, and a Girl at a PTA Meeting
Music has been part of Vedang’s life since childhood. He first performed on stage in fourth grade, playing the tabla. However, according to a story he shared on the podcast Casually Obsessed, a girl at a PTA meeting made him quit tabla and pick up a guitar. It was a pivot that would shape the rest of his creative life.
He taught himself the guitar and began uploading song covers to a YouTube channel — long before any Bollywood director knew his name. Vedang Raina is an extremely talented singer and guitarist and even had a YouTube channel where he uploaded his covers.
Education: Jamnabai Narsee School and NMIMS
Vedang completed his schooling at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai — one of the city’s most respected institutions. He then went on to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies).
His academic path said one thing. His heart said another. At the Filmfare OTT Awards, he put it bluntly after winning Best Debut Actor: “If I hadn’t landed an audition in The Archies, I would have been doing my MBA and had been in my second year.”
Career Journey: From Covers to Cannes-Worthy Cinema
Modelling and the Road to The Archies
Before films, after modelling for several brands, Raina was scouted — a discovery that opened the door to one of India’s most high-profile debut projects.
Being cast in a Zoya Akhtar film alongside the children of Bollywood royalty was both a privilege and a pressure test. He passed with distinction.
The Archies (2023): The Debut That Launched a Career
Vedang Raina made his presence felt playing Reggie in Zoya Akhtar’s adaptation of The Archies. He starred alongside Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, and Mihir Ahuja, among others.
He found a personal connection in the character. “The reason I have a soft spot for him,” he explained, “is that I thought he’s this musician who’s aspiring to make it through his music.” The parallel to his own life was unmistakable.
Along with acting in The Archies, Vedang also sang songs in the film, including “Everything is Politics.”
The debut earned him the industry’s first major recognition. At the Filmfare OTT Awards, he won Best Debut in a Film (Male) for The Archies.
Jigra (2024): The Theatrical Debut Alongside Alia Bhatt
Just a few months after wrapping up The Archies in December 2022, Vedang Raina signed his second film, Jigra. He did not waste a single moment.
Raina starred alongside Alia Bhatt in Vasan Bala’s action thriller Jigra (2024), in which he played the younger brother of Bhatt’s character, who is imprisoned in Southeast Asia.
The film also gave Vedang a second stage for his singing. “Being able to sing ‘Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka’ for Jigra was an unforgettable experience for me. Music has always been a huge part of my life, and when the makers saw some of my singing on social media, they believed it would be the perfect fit for this film,” he told IANS.
“Combining both acting and singing in Jigra feels like a dream come true, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve created,” he added.
Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026): The Breakthrough
In the past timeline set in 1947, Vedang Raina and Sharvari play a young couple in Punjab whose love story is broken apart by the violence and migration of Partition. At the border, Vedang’s character makes a promise that he will come back.
The film dropped on June 12, 2026, and started slowly at the box office, but picked up steam thanks to positive buzz, crossing 25 crore rupees in India. It became one of the year’s biggest word-of-mouth success stories.
Imtiaz Ali was unstinting in his praise. Director Imtiaz Ali called Raina and Sharvari the best co-actors he had worked with.
Vedang himself reflected on the film’s journey with characteristic honesty: “It was especially disappointing because everyone who had seen the film seemed genuinely moved by it and loved it. When audiences finally started coming in large numbers, I felt relieved more than anything else.”
A reviewer at The Watchlist Diaries noted: “Vedang Raina is still relatively new to the industry, but he is evolving at an impressive pace. His performance here is sincere and convincing, and he also gets an opportunity to showcase his singing abilities.”
In the film’s soundtrack, Vedang sang “Maskara” — a song composed by AR Rahman. “I have also sung for my first two films, but Main Vaapas Aaunga is special, simply because this is for Rahman sir,” he shared.
Upcoming: A Maddock Films Comedy Thriller (Late 2026)
Vedang is already at work on his next project. Backed by Maddock Films, an untitled film directed by Jagdeep Sidhu has already wrapped up filming most of its schedule and is expected to release at the end of 2026. The film is reportedly set to revolve around a layered romantic storyline.
Music: The Parallel Career He Has Always Wanted
Vedang Raina has been clear from the beginning — acting alone is not the full picture. “I definitely want to pursue something in music going forward. So, I hope something happens with the music as well,” he has said.
He is a budding singer and musician who would perhaps make a parallel career as a performer in the future.
His musical journey across his three films tells its own story. He sang “Everything is Politics” in The Archies, “Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka” in Jigra, and “Maskara” in Main Vaapas Aaunga — each one a step forward in craft and confidence.
“I always dreamt of being a musician and seeing Ranbir Kapoor on stage in that film, picking up a guitar, singing, and the whole crowd going wild and singing along, was magical,” he has said, revealing Rockstar as a touchstone of inspiration.
Songs Sung in Films
| Song | Film | Year | Music by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everything is Politics | The Archies | 2023 | — |
| Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka | Jigra | 2024 | — |
| Maskara | Main Vaapas Aaunga | 2026 | AR Rahman |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Archies | Reggie Mantle | Zoya Akhtar | Debut; Filmfare OTT Best Debut (Male) |
| 2024 | Jigra | Ankur Anand | Vasan Bala | Theatrical debut alongside Alia Bhatt |
| 2026 | Main Vaapas Aaunga | Young Ishar Singh Grewal / “Keenu” | Imtiaz Ali | First box-office success |
| 2026 TBA | Untitled Maddock Films Film | — | Jagdeep Sidhu | In post-production |
Awards and Recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Debut in a Film (Male) | The Archies | Won |
Personal Life: Private, Grounded, and Proud of His Roots
Vedang Raina keeps his personal life largely private. He is unmarried and has consistently kept romantic details away from the public eye.
He comes from a Kashmiri Pandit family — a heritage he carries with both pride and gravity. His Kashmiri identity is not just a biographical footnote. It is a lens through which he understands displacement, love, and longing — themes that run through all three of his films.
His interests outside of acting and music include fashion — GQ India has covered him extensively — and fitness. He credits his grounded temperament to his family background and his time studying business at NMIMS, where he might otherwise have built a very different kind of career.
