Vaidya was raised in Joshua Tree in Yucca Valley, California. He graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and later University of California, Santa Cruz for two years. He then attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, graduating with honors.
After college, Vaidya began to work with an agent and received small roles in television programs, Marathi dramas and commercials. After receiving a small role in Arrested Development, he was also asked to audition for the role of Sadiq for The Office (U.S. TV series) by the same casting director. He portrayed Sadiq in two episodes, E-mail Surveillance and Fun Run.
Vaidya?s most notable performance is in a supporting role in the 2009 Bollywood film, 3 Idiots as Chatur Ramalingam (or “The Silencer“). He received strong reviews for his performance. Vaidya auditioned for the role of Chatur while on a trip to Mumbai. After passing the first audition, he was asked during the second to read dialogue from Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
Vaidya states that he “just rattled it off without exactly understanding the words … almost like the speech scene in .” After being hired for the part of Chatur, he was told not to study Hindi, not to watch Hindi films, and to gain weight. Of his success in the film, Vaidya credits the atmosphere of the cast and crew stating that in Mumbai there is “a personal touch, unlike Hollywood.
Even if they don?t pay you by the hour and there is no extra time, there is warmth and care. I basically saw my Bollywood innings as a challenge. A lot of credit also goes to Raju and Abhijat Joshi for the way the character came across on screen.” He was also discouraged from providing interviews prior to the film?s release.
Vaidya states: “Before the film released, I asked director Rajkumar Hirani if I could give a couple of interviews. He stopped me saying nobody knew me and I should wait till the film is released. My role was a surprise they had planned for the audience.” Vaidya later recalled that, “When I was at the premiere of 3 Idiots, no one recognised me. I was a bit depressed but when it got over, it was difficult for me to even get out of the theatre. I have been enamoured by the love and appreciation I have received from the audience Today, when I go out on streets, people come and shake hands with me? It feels nice.”
Filmography Done By Omi Vaidya
- 2005 Arrested Development Rav Nadir “The Immaculate Election”-TV Series
- 2005–2007 The Office Sadiq “E-mail Surveillance”
- 2007 “Fun Run”-TV Series
- 2007 Rolling Assar
- 2008 Bones Hamid Hirani Season 4 episode: The crank in the shift-TV Series
- 2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unnamed Inmate Season 8 episode “Drops Out” (uncredited) TV Series
- 2008 Life Vairam
- 2009 Kath & Kim Prakash
- 2009 Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight Fish
- 2009 3 Idiots Chatur Ramalingam a.k.a. “The Silencer” Movie
- 2010 Sons of Tucson Glen’s Work Buddy
- 2010 Better Off Ted Sales Man Episode: The Long and Winding High Road
- 2011 Big in Bollywood Himself
- 2011 Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji Milind Kelkar
- 2011 Desi Boyz Ajay
- 2012 Players Sunny Mehra
- 2012 Jodi Breakers Nano
- 2013 Rules of Engagement Waiter Episode: Catering
- 2014 The Comeback Uber Driver
- 2014 Growing Up Fisher Elliot
- 2015 For Here or to Go Lakshmi
- 2016 Brown Nation Balan Sree Ramakrishnan
- 2017 Mirror Game Vikram
- 2018 Blackmail Boss DK
- 2019 —present Metro Park (TV mini Series) Kannan
Omi Vaidya As Director
- Out of Time 2007
- The Desert Rose 2007
Omi Vaidya As Editor
- Out of Time 2003
- Delusion 2004
- Bloodshed 2005
- The Gold Bracelet 2006
- Remember the Days 2007
- Blind Ambition 2008