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Patruni Sastry Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 December 1992

Age29 (as of 2022)

BirthplaceKharagpur, West Bengal

ProfessionDrag performer, actor, Indian classical dancer, model

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRajeswari Raji

FamilyFather - Patruni Dharmayya; Sister - Nishika Patruni

Patruni Sastry Biography

Patruni Sastry is an Indian drag performer, classical dancer, actor and activist from Kharagpur, West Bengal. Known for blending classical dance with drag,

Early life and background
Patruni Chidananda Sastry was born on 25 December 1992 in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Raised in a family with musical and artistic roots—his father, Patruni Dharmayya, is a Carnatic singer—he began formal dance training at a young age. From primary school years he trained in Bharatanatyam under Kalamandalam Venkitt in Kolkata and later expanded his study to include Kuchipudi, Odissi, contemporary dance and the avant-garde Japanese form Butoh.

Sastry’s earliest memories of performance came from films and family encouragement. His father and aunt supported his training, and his mother assisted with makeup when he first performed in drag at age 14. Those early lessons and experiences shaped his interest in using movement as a primary mode of expression and storytelling.

Education and early career
Sastry completed school in West Bengal and pursued higher education across several institutions. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from the West Bengal University of Technology and later completed postgraduate studies in telecommunications management, including an MBA in the same field. His formal dance education also includes a diploma in Bharatanatyam from a fine arts college.

Alongside his artistic practice he worked in the corporate sector. Beginning in 2014 he held roles at technology and consulting firms including Wipro, Armia Systems, Tech Mahindra, Deloitte, HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management, and later CGI and FactSet. These positions ranged from trainee and associate roles to business analyst and product development specialist, reflecting a parallel professional trajectory in technology and consulting.

Career
Patruni Sastry emerged publicly as a drag performer in Hyderabad in 2014. Early performances led him to question dominant Western drag aesthetics, and he set out to create work rooted in Indian classical traditions and local narratives. He performs under the drag names SAS and Suffocated Art Specimen (S.A.S) and has described a personal approach to dance as “Indian Expressionism,” adapting expressionist methods to classical Indian forms to explore topics such as gender, sexuality and identity.

His stage work blends classical technique with contemporary themes. Notable drag productions include Pancha Pandhakas, La Nari, Kavach, Nir Rod and Aratrika; popular solo pieces listed from recent years include Four Play, Strip Tease, Mati and 69. He has performed at dance and arts festivals such as the Golden Beach Festival, Kalpashree Dance Festival and Hyderabad Dance Festival, and has taken part in events like the Queer And Ally Film and Art Festival and the International Storytelling Festival.

Beyond live performance, Sastry has worked in film and publishing. In 2020 he appeared in the English short film Polar Night, directed the short film Shoonyam and edited the short 70/100'. That same year he published two books, Dressing as a Goddess: A Drag Photo Book and My Experiments with Drag. He has also released music with songs addressing LGBTQ themes, including Pride Masam Anna, Cheeranjiva Sukhibhava and Chudu Sexy Gurl, released in 2021.

Activism and public work
Sastry is an active advocate for LGBTQ rights and visibility. He founded DragVanti, an online platform for emerging drag artists, in June 2020 to provide resources and visibility for drag performers. He has used dance and public performances as platforms for social messaging, working with organisations on themes of mental health, gender rights and sexual health, and staging projects that address topics from menstrual health to safe sexual practices.

He has publicly challenged media content and discrimination; in 2018 he filed a petition against videos that targeted LGBTQ people, and in 2020 he participated as a guest on the reality show Bigg Boss Telugu to speak against transphobia. Sastry has sought to broaden public conversation on gender diversity, speaking about personal identity evolution and the need for nuanced representation.

Public profile
Sastry identifies with a non-binary gender and has discussed changes in how he describes his own identity over time. He has trained with a range of dance teachers across India and beyond, and his work frequently interrogates gender stereotypes and expectations. His family includes his wife, Rajeswari Raji, and an elder sister named Nishika Patruni.

Latest updates
In recent years Sastry has continued to combine artistic practice, publishing, music and advocacy. He remains active on social platforms under his name and the online initiative DragVanti, and continues to present new performances and projects that connect classical technique with contemporary social themes.
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Recent Work

DragVanti

Founder of the online drag platform DragVanti, started June 2020 to support budding drag performers.

2020
Polar Night

Acted in the English short film Polar Night (2020).

2020
Dressing as a Goddess; My Experiments with Drag

Authored two books about drag and performance (2020).

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Founder of the online drag platform DragVanti
  2. Performer blending Indian classical dance with drag under the names SAS and Suffocated Art Specimen
  3. Appeared in and contributed to short films; published books on drag
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Patruni Sastry born?

25 December 1992

What is Patruni Sastry known for?

Drag performer, actor, Indian classical dancer, model

What is Patruni Sastry’s marital status?

Married

Who is Patruni Sastry married to?

Rajeswari Raji