Computer Science major gets bit by the acting bug

Rudraneel Sinha, a senior Computer Science major with a minor in Mathematics, has been taking acting classes in theatre and dance for two years, including appearing in two Purdue Theatre productions (Gloria, Spring ’25 and The Snow, Fall ’25).

“Being so warmly welcomed by the talented theatre department whose work I have been in awe of has been so much more than just a fulfilling experience.”

Rudraneel’s “fulfilling experience” recently turned into a professional job on the Purdue for Life Foundation’s “Purdue Day of Giving” advertising campaign.

Rudraneel Sinha on set for "Purdue Day of Giving"

“I auditioned for the commercial after having taken Professor Quetta Carpenter’s wonderful screen acting class, finding it to be a good opportunity to apply what I learnt. The crew and the rest of the people in the room were very kind, welcoming and patient. I had a lot of fun with the text, and it was a great learning experience to work in a professional setting like that.” 

Rudraneel recommends taking acting classes, even if not a major. “Acting is an activity that requires complete and undivided presence from an individual, and practicing that alone has improved the way I have been able to use my time and energy these last couple years. Doing something that you love with people whose work inspires you is perhaps the best kind of experience, and especially so in college.”

Graduating this Spring, Rudraneel is applying to PhD programs in Computer Science. He is currently conducting research in the SecArch Lab led by Prof. Kazem Taram (Department of Computer Science), and is the keyboardist in a band (Concrete Chicken). You can see him on stage as Editor Webb in Purdue Theatre’s Our Town this April, and look for him on screen soon!

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 Favorite quote: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

 – Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings