Dayanand Chandrashekhar Shetty, also known as Daya Shetty, is an Indian model, television and film actor, prominently popular for portraying the role of Senior Inspector Daya in the Indian television detective crime drama "CID", since 1998.

Early Career of Dayanand Shetty
Born on December 11, 1969, Dayanand Shetty is a former sportsperson who turned to acting due to a leg injury. He was a shot put and discus thrower, which won him many prizes. He was the champion of discus throw from Maharashtra in the year 1994. He later became a model, starting to act in many commercials. He has even won awards as a theatre artist, one of which is the Best Actor award for his role in the Tulu language play "Secret".

Acting Career of Dayanand Shetty
Dayanand Shetty had auditioned for the role of CID officer in 1998, and got selected to play the character of Senior Inspector Daya in the television crime drama "CID", airing on Sony Entertainment Television, along with actors Shivaji Satam and Aditya Srivastava in the lead. He has also written some of the episodes of "CID". In the series, Senior Inspector Daya is known for his immense strength, whose name is enough to intimidate and make the toughest of criminals break down. One of the most famous dialogues from the series is ACP Pradyuman, played by Shivaji Satam, asking him "Daya darwaaza tod do" (meaning "Daya, break the door"). The dialogue became so popular that it has even been used in the film "Singham Returns" that also features Shetty as Senior Inspector Daya. It is one of the most appreciated scenes in the film. In "CID", Senior Inspector Daya is also critical in finding the clues for solving the case. Although tough in appearance, Daya is soft-mannered and sympathetic in nature, always the first one to resort to the support of his team members and others when they need it the most. For his portrayal of Daya, he won the Best Supporting Actor award in the Gold Awards, 2012.

A song was recorded for a "CID" episode that aired on January 21, 2012, which was a lullaby sung by Daya Shetty and his fellow actors Shivaji Satam and Aditya Shrivastava. Shetty"s talent as a singer has also been noticed and appreciated in talk shows like "Movers and Shakers".

Daya Shetty has also acted in TV commercials, plays and films. He had won the best looking guy vote conducted by Indian Television in the year 2002. He has participated in television reality shows "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" (Season 4), a dance reality show and the 2014 season of "Khatron Ke Khiladi", performing many stunts before being eventually eliminated.

Apart from participating in reality shows, Daya Shetty has also made guest appearances in TV shows such as "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" and "Kkusum". He has also acted in "Gutur Gu", a silent comedy show, in both seasons 1 and 2. He has made appearances as a celebrity guest in shows like "Deal Ya No Deal", "Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega" (Season 4), "Kahani Comedy Circus Ki", "Aapka Sapna Hamara Apna", "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L`il Champs" along with Shivaji Satam on the Independence Day Special episode of 2011 and "Kaun Banega Crorepati" in 2014, along with Shivaji Satam, Aditya Srivastava and Narendra Gupta.

Filmography of Dayanand Shetty
The movies Dayanand Shetty has acted in thus far in his career are highlighted hereunder, along with his respective roles and the years of release.