RAJKUMMAR RAO BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, MOVIES & FACTS

Rajkummar Rao is one of Hindi cinema's most decorated actors, a performer whose rise has been built on craft, patience and fearless choices. Born Raj Kumar Yadav on 31 August 1984 in Gurgaon (Gurugram), Haryana, he moved from school-stage acting to serious theatre training before entering Bollywood.

Rajkummar Rao today holds a National Film Award for Best Actor for Shahid, five Filmfare Awards, and blockbusters such as Stree and Stree 2. This biography covers his age, real name, early life, training, career, major films, awards, wife, family and upcoming projects — including Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, in cinemas on October 16, 2026.

Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bhatnagarritam, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Rajkummar Rao at an event, October 2024.

Early Life and Training

Rajkummar Rao was born as Raj Kumar Yadav on 31 August 1984 in Gurgaon, Haryana. Drawn to acting from a young age, he began with school plays and later moved to Delhi, where he trained in theatre under Barry John at the Theatre Action Group. Determined to master his craft, he went on to study acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, an education that shaped his intense, method-driven approach to every role.

Career and Breakthrough

Rajkummar Rao made his film debut with Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010) and spent his early years taking on small, challenging parts. His breakthrough arrived with Shahid (2013), Hansal Mehta's biographical drama in which he played lawyer Shahid Azmi. The performance won him the National Film Award for Best Actor at the 61st National Film Awards along with the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, announcing him as one of the finest actors of his generation. Readers can also explore our Ranveer Singh biography for another leading star's journey.

Major Films and Awards

Over the years, Rajkummar Rao has headlined an unusually rich filmography. His key films include Kai Po Che! (2013), Queen (2014), Aligarh (2015), Trapped (2016), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), Newton (2017) — India's official entry to the 90th Academy Awards, which also earned him the Asia Pacific Screen Award — Stree (2018), Ludo (2020), Badhaai Do (2022), Srikanth (2024) and Stree 2 (2024), his highest-grossing release.

He has won five Filmfare Awards: Critics Best Actor for Shahid (2014), Best Supporting Actor for Bareilly Ki Barfi (2018), Critics Best Actor for Trapped (2018), Best Actor for Badhaai Do (2023) and Critics Best Actor for Srikanth (2025). For more star profiles, see our Akshay Kumar biography and Amitabh Bachchan biography.

Personal Life

Rajkummar Rao is married to actress Patralekhaa. The couple married on 15 November 2021 in Chandigarh, and welcomed their daughter on 15 November 2025. Beyond acting, the two have launched their own production house, KAMPA Film, marking a new chapter in their creative partnership. Fans of upcoming releases can also check our Udta Teer (2026) movie — release date, cast, songs coverage.

Watch the Official Trailer

Rajkummar Rao will next be seen in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, in which he plays public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The film arrives in cinemas on October 16, 2026. Watch the official trailer below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rajkummar Rao's real name?

His birth name is Raj Kumar Yadav. He adopted the professional spelling Rajkummar Rao (with a double m) for his acting career.

How old is Rajkummar Rao?

He was born on 31 August 1984, which makes him 42 years old as of October 2026.

Which film won him the National Award?

He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Shahid (2013) at the 61st National Film Awards.

Who is Rajkummar Rao's wife?

His wife is actress Patralekhaa, whom he married on 15 November 2021 in Chandigarh.