Prakash Raj is an Indian film actor, film director, and producer who works mainly in South Indian films. He was born on March 26, 1965, in Bangalore, India. Prakash Raj started his career as a theatre actor and made his debut in the film industry with the Kannada film “Olavu Moodidaga” in the year 1986. He has worked in a variety of Indian languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam. He has acted in over 200 films and has received several awards and nominations for his performances.
Prakash Raj Biography
Full Name | Prakash Raj |
Date of Birth | 26 March 1965 |
Age | 59 Years Old |
Place of Birth | Mysore, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Profession | Actor, Director, Producer, Politician |
Prakash Raj Family
Father | Manjunath Rai |
Mother | Swarnalatha Raj |
Brother | Prasad Raj |
Spouse | Lalitha Kumari (m. 1994, div. 2009) Pony Verma (m. 2010) |
Kids | Sidhu Rai Vedhanth Rai Meghna, Pooja |
Prakash Raj Physical Measurements
Height | 5 feet 9 Inches |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Prakash Raj Education
School | St Joseph’s Boys’ High School, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
College | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
Prakash Raj Wiki
Prakash Raj’s acting skills and versatility have made him one of the most sought-after actors in South India. He has received several awards for his performances including six Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor, two Nandi Awards for Best Supporting Actor, and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Padma Sri award which is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
In addition to his acting career, Prakash Raj is also a successful film director and producer. He has directed several films in different languages, including the critically acclaimed Tamil film “Dhaya”. He has also produced several successful films, including the Kannada film “Naanu Nanna Kanasu” which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada.
Prakash Raj is known for his social and political activism. He is a vocal critic of the Indian government and has taken part in several protests and demonstrations. He has also been actively involved in various social causes and has supported many charitable organizations. He is also the founder of an NGO called “Prakash Raj Foundation” which works towards the development of rural communities.
Prakash Raj is married to Lalitha Kumari and has four children. He is a versatile actor and has played a wide range of characters in his career. He is considered one of the finest actors in South Indian cinema and is revered by fans for his dedication and hard work. Despite his busy schedule, Prakash Raj finds time for his family and is known for his down-to-earth personality. In conclusion, Prakash Raj is a versatile and talented actor who has made a significant contribution to the Indian film industry. He is a versatile actor who has acted in a wide range of genres and has received several awards and nominations for his performances. He is also a successful film director and producer and is known for his social and political activism. He is an inspiration to aspiring actors and is loved by fans for his hard work, dedication, and down-to-earth personality.
In conclusion, Prakash Raj is a versatile and talented actor who has made a significant contribution to the Indian film industry. He is a versatile actor who has acted in a wide range of genres and has received several awards and nominations for his performances. He is also a successful film director and producer and is known for his social and political activism. He is an inspiration to aspiring actors and is loved by fans for his hard work, dedication, and down-to-earth personality.
Prakash Raj Career
Prakash Raj began his acting journey by performing in stage shows, earning a meager ₹300 a month. He gained valuable experience by participating in over 2,000 street theatre performances after joining Kalakshetra in Bengaluru.
His television career took off with appearances in Doordarshan serials like Bisilu Kudure (Kannada) and Guddada Bhootha (Tulu and Kannada). Prakash then ventured into Kannada cinema, initially in supporting roles in films like Ramachari, Ranadheera, Nishkarsha, and Lockup Death. His breakthrough came with Harakeya Kuri, where his performance caught the eye of director K. S. L. Swamy.
Prakash’s association with director K. Balachander led him to Tamil cinema, where he debuted as Prakash Rai in the film Duet. His notable roles include Nagamandala (1997) and his National Film Award-winning performance in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar (1997).
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Prakash Raj worked in Malayalam cinema, featuring in films like The Prince, Indraprastham, and Pandippada. He also made his mark in Telugu cinema with films like Antahpuram (1998), which earned him critical acclaim.
In Bollywood, Prakash Raj appeared in the multi-starrer hit Khakee (2004), and since then, he has been a regular face in Hindi cinema as a villain in films like Singham, Dabangg 2, and Policegiri.
Prakash Raj’s directorial debut came with Naanu Nanna Kanasu in Kannada in 2010, which was a commercial success. He later directed the multilingual films Dhoni and Oggarane (Kannada), Ulavacharu Biryani (Telugu), and Un Samayal Arayil (Tamil) in 2014.
As a producer, Prakash Raj began with the Tamil film Dhaya (2002) and went on to produce several successful films in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Notable productions include Naam (2003), Mozhi (2007), and the blockbuster hit Oggarane (2014).
In 2011, Prakash Raj produced the Tamil version of the bilingual film Payanam, starring Nagarjuna Akkineni. He also produced the National Award-winning Kannada film Puttakkana Highway in the same year.
Prakash Raj Social Media Profiles
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Net Worth
Prakash Raj’s estimated net worth is around $6 million (Rs. 36 crores), attributed to his successful career as an actor, director, and producer in both Bollywood and Hollywood industries. His involvement in various film projects and his versatility as a performer have contributed significantly to his financial success. Additionally, Prakash Raj’s engagement in social activities has further enhanced his net worth. Through his work and dedication, he has not only achieved financial prosperity but also made a positive impact on society.
Awards
National Film Awards
- 1997 – Best Supporting Actor for the Tamil film Iruvar
- 1998 – Special Mention for the Telugu film Anthapuram
- 2002 – Special Jury Award for the Tamil film Dhaya
- 2007 – Best Actor for the Tamil film Kanchivaram
- 2010 – Best Feature Film in Kannada (as producer) for the film
Filmfare Awards South
- 2002 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Nuvve Nuvve
- 2003 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Tagore
- 2004 – Best Villain for the Tamil film Ghilli
- 2005 – Best Villain for the Tamil film Sivakasi
- 2009 – Best Actor for the Tamil film Kanchivaram
International Indian Film Academy Awards
- 2003 – Best Supporting Actor for the Tamil film Kannathil Muthamittal
Nandi Awards
- 1996 – Best Villam for the Telugu film Gunshot
- 1998 – Best Character Actor for the Telugu film Anthahpuram Ammayi
- 2000 – Best Character Actor for the Telugu film Azad
- 2002 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Khadgam
- 2003 – Best Character Actor for the Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila
- 2003 – Best Villain for the Telugu film Gangotri
- 2006 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Bommarillu
- 2011 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Dookudu
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- 1996 – Best Villain for the Tamil film Kalkı
- 2000 – Best Villam for the Tamil film Vaanavil
- 2009 – Best Film – Second Prize for the Tamil film Mozhi
- 2017 – Best Villain for the Tamil film Villu
- 2017 – Best Film- Third Prize for the Tamil film Dhoni
CineMAA Awards
- 2003 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Khadgam
- 2004 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila
- 2012 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Dookudu at the South Indian International Movie Awards
- 2012 – Best Supporting Actor for the Telugu film Dookudu
- 2015 – Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the Tamil film O Kadhal
- 2016 – Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the Tamil film Manithan
- 2018 – Best Actor in Supporting Role for the Tamil film 60 Vayadu
Social Work
Prakash Raj actively engages in social work through his non-government organizations, namely the Prakash Raj Foundation and the Just Asking Foundation. These organizations have been dedicated to the betterment of society for a significant period of time.
In 2015, he took the initiative to adopt Kondareddypalli, a village located in the Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. Since then, he has been diligently working towards the development and improvement of the town by providing various essential facilities and resources.
Through his NGOs, Prakash Raj extends support to various organizations, such as Hasiru Dala, which assists waste pickers’ families, and Thamate Centre for Rural Empowerment, which focuses on the welfare of families engaged in manual scavenging. He also collaborates with Audience Films and FEFSI to provide aid to the families of daily wage workers in the film industry. Additionally, he supports Sumangali Seva Ashram, Grama Seva Sangh, Scope Enterprises, and other similar initiatives that aim to uplift fishermen’s families and underprivileged communities in and around Kovalam Village, Tamil Nadu.
Prakash Raj’s dedication to social work reflects his commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of marginalized individuals and communities. Through his philanthropic endeavours, he strives to bring about meaningful change and contribute to the welfare of society.
Controversy
Banned from working in Telugu Films
Prakash Raj received his first-ever ban from the Telugu film industry in 2008 due to his unprofessional behaviour while filming. The leading Telugu film production companies came together and decided to forbid Prakash Raj from continuing to work on Telugu films. The Telugu film industry subsequently banned him five more times.
Backlash Over a Controversial Dialogue
Prakash Raj faced intense criticism for a line from the 2011 Hindi movie “Singham.” Ajay Devgn’s character Inspector Bajirao Singham was threatened by Jaikant Shikre (Prakash) in a scene from the movie, saying that he would bring 1,000 people from the Karnataka border to beat him. One lion would be enough to drive away a thousand dogs, said Ajay (who played the Maratha Bajirao Singham). The Kannadigas were not pleased with the dialogue, and they began to protest against Prakash Raj for not objecting to the scene. Later, the protest heated up when the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) demanded the deletion of the scene from the film.
8 Interesting Facts
- Prakash Raj is an Indian actor, film director, politician, producer, and television presenter, who received the National Film Award in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007, and 2010.
- Prakash was born to a Hindu father and a Roman Catholic mother.
- Prakash Raj faced many financial difficulties in childhood. His father was an alcoholic, and all the financial expenses were managed by his mother single-handedly
- In school, Prakash Raj used to participate in various stage plays and developed an interest in acting.
- Prakash Raj hosted the Tamil TV quiz show ‘Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kod’ in 2013.
- Prakash Raj is the host of the TV show Neengalum Vellalam
- Prakash Raj has also appeared in the English/Hindi film CandyFlip (2016)
- In 2016, Prakash Raj started a portable vegetable bazaar named Prakash Raj Veg Mantra at Chitrapuri Colony, Manikonda, Hyderabad.
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