Prashant Narayanan is an Indian actor who has worked primarily in Hindi cinema, with additional appearances in Malayalam films and Indian streaming productions. He is best known for his portrayal of a psychopathic, misogynistic serial killer in the 2011 thriller Murder 2, produced under the Bhatt banner, which proved to be his commercial breakthrough.
| Name | Prashant Narayanan |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Primary industry | Hindi cinema |
| Other industries | Malayalam cinema, streaming television |
| Breakthrough film | Murder 2 (2011) |
| Notable streaming work | Mai (Netflix) |
Narayanan built a body of work in independent and mainstream Hindi cinema before achieving wider recognition. His credits include Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, Shadows of Time, Bombil and Beatrice, Via Darjeeling and Murder 2. He also appeared in the telefilm Ek Tamanna.
Narayanan's career-defining role came with Murder 2, the second instalment in the Murder franchise produced under the Bhatt banner. His performance as a psychopathic and misogynistic serial killer drew significant attention and is widely regarded as the role with which he is most strongly associated.
Alongside his Hindi-language filmography, Narayanan has acted in a small number of Malayalam films, broadening his presence beyond the Mumbai industry.
Narayanan featured in the Netflix series Mai, marking his most recent prominent appearance in long-form streaming content.
Narayanan attracted media attention for publicly criticising actor Ranveer Singh's performance in Padmaavat, characterising it as poor method acting. The remarks prompted responses from within the Hindi film industry, with actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui among those who voiced support for Ranveer Singh.
Narayanan is recognised as a character actor whose work spans parallel and mainstream Hindi cinema. His role in Murder 2 remains a notable example of antagonist portrayals in early-2010s Hindi thrillers, and he has continued to take on supporting roles across films and streaming platforms.