Name: Rajkummar Rao
Profession: Actor
Born: 31 August 1984 (Prem Nagar, Gurgaon, Haryana, India)
Nationality: Indian
Known for: Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Shahid, Newton, Trapped, Stree, Monica, O My Darling, Badhaai Do
Biography:
Rajkummar Rao was born Raj Kumar Yadav on 31 August 1984 in Prem Nagar, Gurgaon, Haryana, to Satya Prakash Yadav, a government revenue officer, and Kamlesh Yadav, a homemaker. He grew up alongside two elder siblings, Amit and Monika, in a joint-family environment marked by financial constraints; teachers even paid his school fees for several years.
He completed his schooling at Blue Bells Model School, Gurgaon, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, while actively participating in theatre with Kshitij Repertory and the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. In 2008, he graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, setting the stage for his film career.
Rao made his cinematic debut in Dibakar Banerjee’s anthology Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), earning critical notice for his unflinching performance. He followed with supporting roles in Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (both 2012), demonstrating early range.
His breakout came in 2013 with two acclaimed performances: as the idealistic cricketer in Kai Po Che! and as lawyer Shahid Azmi in Shahid, winning him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
Over the next decade, Rao balanced independent and mainstream cinema. He survived alone in an apartment for Trapped (2016), winning a second Critics Award, and portrayed an earnest schoolmaster in Newton (2017), earning the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor.
His foray into horror-comedy with Stree (2018) proved a commercial triumph, and his role in Badhaai Do (2022) as a closeted gay man garnered him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Recent highlights include his sharp turn in the dark comedy Monica, O My Darling (2022) and the social drama Bheed (2023).
Rao’s performances are marked by meticulous research and physical transformation, he subsisted on carrots and coffee to portray an entrapped man and used his own blood for a scene in Trapped. Off-screen, he is known for his humility, rare media appearances, and advocacy for mental health awareness.
In 2023, he was appointed National Icon by the Election Commission of India, urging voter participation.
Awards and Accolades:
- National Film Award for Best Actor – Shahid (2013)
- Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Shahid (2014), Trapped (2018) and Badhaai Do (2023)
- Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor – Newton (2017)
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017)
Interesting Facts:
- Changed spelling from “Rajkumar Rao” on his mother’s advice, citing numerology.
- Survived on 18 rupees during his early days in Mumbai; often shared rented accommodation and auditions for years before breakthrough.
- An ardent reader inspired by biographies of global screen legends; his personal library includes works by Charlie Chaplin and Walter Isaacson.
- A committed vegan who performed non-vegetarian scenes when required by role.
Social Media:
- Instagram: @rajkummar_rao
- Twitter: @RajkummarRao
