Prakash Raj is an Indian actor, film director, producer, and TV presenter who primarily works in the South Indian film industry. Prakash was introduced to Indian film director K Balachander by one of his co-stars in the Kannada film Harakeya Kuri (1993).
Prakash Raj is an actor and producer, known for Anniyan (2005), Abhiyum Naanum (2008), and Kalki (1996). On the advice of renowned Tamil director K Balachander, actor Prakash Rai changed his name to Prakash Raj. The director believed that Prakash had the skills to become an all-Indian actor, so he asked Prakash to keep the Raj suffix.
Prakash Raj’s Biography
Prakash Raj born Prakash Rai on 26 March 1965, is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television host, and politician. Known for his films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi, he has won 5 National Film Awards, 8 Nandi Awards, 8 Tamil Nadu Film Awards, 5 Filmfare Awards South, and won multiple awards including the SIIMA Award and three Cinema Awards.
Besides his native Kannada, Prakash Raj is fluent in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, English, and Marathi, making him one of the most in-demand actors in Indian cinema. After years of working in stage shows and television in Kannada, Prakash Raj ventured into film. He made his debut in Tamil cinema with K. Balachander’s Duet (1994) and has since become a commercially successful Tamil film star. In his memory, he named his production company Duet Movies.
As a multilingual, he has played a variety of roles, mostly as an antagonist and more recently as a character actor. As an actor, Prakash Raj won Best Supporting Actor for Mani Ratnam`s Iruvar in Ratnam in 1998 and Best Supporting Actor in the Telugu film Antahpuram directed by Krishnavamsi in 1998. In 2007, he was recognized for his role in the Priyadarshan-directed Tamil film, Kanchivaram.
As a producer, Prakash Raj won the 2011 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada for ‘Puttakkan Highway’ directed by his longtime theater friend B. Suresha. Prakash also hosted Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi during the second season of the series. Prakash Raj came to Kalakshetra, Bengaluru in the early stages of his career, appearing in a series of stage shows for 300 rupees a month and giving 2,000 street theater performances.
Prakash Raj took over directing and co-producing Naanu Nanna Kanasu in 2010’s Kannada. The film ran for 125 days in cinemas in Karnataka and became the biggest hit of the year. He was nominated for Filmfare’s South Best Director category for his first film.
He then directed the Telugu and Tamil bilingual film Dhoni. In 2014, he directed the multilingual films Oggarane (Kannada), Ulavacharu Biryani (Telugu), and Un Samayal Arayil (Tamil). While the Tamil and Telugu versions did not perform miracles at the box office, the Kannada version was the blockbuster of the year.
Prakash Raj became a film producer from the Tamil film Daya (2002) starring actress Meena. He won the Special Jury National Award for his performance. He later produced Tamil films such as Naam (2003), Azhagiya Theeye (2004), Kanda Naal Mudhal (2005), Poi (2006), Mozhi (2007), Velli Thirai, Abhiyum Naanum, and in 2008 for Many Tamil he won Nadu State Award.
Prakash Raj adopted the villages of Kondareddypalle, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana state, and Bandlarahatti village, Chitradurga district, Karnataka state. He started an aggressive political campaign using the hashtag #justasking on social media after the assassination of his friend Gauri Lankesh in September 2017.
Prakash Raj ran as an independent candidate for the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 Indian general election but he lost the election, receiving approximately 28,906 votes (2.41%) in the election.
Prakash Raj’s Nationality
Born in Bengaluru, India, Prakash Raj is an Indian
Prakash Raj’s Net Worth
Politician, actor, producer, and director Prakash Raj is estimated to be worth around $6 Million (Rs. 36) Crores with an annual income of Rs. 2.50 Crores.
Where Is Prakash Raj From?
Prakash Raj is from Bengaluru, India. Bengaluru (also called Bangalore) is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state. The center of India’s high-tech industry, the city is also known for its parks and nightlife.
How Old Is Prakash Raj?
Born on March 26, 1965, Prakash Raj is 57 years
Prakash Raj’s Height & Weight
Prakash Raj is 1.74m tall and weighs 74kg
Prakash Raj’s Education
Prakash Raj was a student of St. Joseph’s University, St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School, and St.Joseph’s Indian Composite Pre-U. He completed schooling at St. Joseph’s Indian High School and joined St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore. He went to St. Joseph’s College of Commerce in Bengaluru, Karnataka, for his PUC from 1983 to 1985.
Prakash Raj’s Career
Prakash Raj began his acting career with television serials like Bisilu Kudure (Kannada) and Guddada Bhootha (Tulu and Kannada). After beginning his career in Kannada television shows, the actor proved his mettle in his first movie, the Tamil film, Duet, in 1994.
Prakash Raj has also established himself as a firebrand politician. He never minces words when it comes to speaking his mind and as a producer has produced a lot of films in the Indian movie industry.
Prakash Raj’s Relationship – Past & Present
Prakash Raj married actress Lalitha Kumari in 1994. They had two daughters, Meghana and Pooja, and a son, Sidu, who died in 2004. The couple divorced in 2009. On August 24, 2010, he married choreographer Pony Velma.
Prakash Raj married Tamil film actress Lalitha Kumari in 1994. Together, they welcomed three children, two daughters, Meghna and Pooja, and a son, Sidhu. After struggling for months, he was separated from his family due to the injuries he suffered as a result of his fall while flying kit. Soon after, Prakash and Lalitha also parted ways.
Prakash Raj’s Family & Siblings
Prakash Raj was born to Manjunath Rai and Swarnalatha. His father is from a Tulu background while his mother is a Kannadiga. He has a brother named Prasad Raj, who is also an actor. He is debuting in Kollywood as a villain in the ‘Padai Soozha’ movie.
What Is Prakash Raj Famous For?
Known for his works in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi-language films, Prakash Raj is famous as a multi-faceted talented, national award-winning actor who marked his presence in all the film industries like Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
He is the recipient of several accolades, including five National Film Awards, eight Nandi Awards, eight Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards South, four SIIMA Awards, three CineMAA Awards, and three Vijay Awards.
Prakash Raj is also famous as one of the best villains in the Indian movie industry and he plays the role so well that almost everyone just loves him.
Prakash Raj’s Children
Prakash Raj is the father of 4 namely Sidhu Rai, Vedhanth, Meghna Rai, and Pooja Rai. He had his two daughters, Meghana and Pooja, and a son, Sidhu with his ex-wife Kumari and Vedhanth with his current wife.
Prakash Raj’s Social Media
On Instagram, Prakash Raj goes by the handle (@joinprakashraj) and on Twitter (@prakashraaj)
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