Prakash Raj - Biography, Age, Career, Controversy, Awards

Profile Summary

Table Of Contents

• Biography 
• Age  
• Education
• Family
• Wife
• Career
• Best Works Of Prakash Raj
• Career Timeline
• Net Worth
• Awards
• Social Work
• Controversy
• Interesting Facts
• How to Book a Similar Celebrity Like Prakash Raj on Tring?

Biography 

Prakash Raj, who was born Prakash Rai on March 26, 1965, is an Indian actor, politician, film director, producer, and television host. He has won numerous awards, 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. He is well known for his work in Tamil, English, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi-language films. Raj is one of the most sought-after actors in Indian cinema due to his proficiency in a number of other languages in addition to his mother tongue Kannada, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, English, Tulu, and Marathi.

After working in stage shows and television in Kannada for a few years, Raj ventured into films. He made his debut in Tamil cinema through Duet (1994), by K. Balachander, and has since been a commercially successful film star in Tamil. In remembrance, he named his production company Duet Movies.

He was a multilingual actor who took on a variety of parts, most notably those of the antagonist and, more recently, character actors. As an actor, Prakash has won three National Film Awards -  Best Supporting Actor in 1998 for his work in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar, Special Mention in 1998 for Krishna Vamsi's Telugu film Antahpuram, and Best Actor in 2007 for his performance in Priyadarshan's Tamil film Kanchivaram.

Puttakkana Highway, directed by his longtime theater friend B. Suresha, won him a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada in 2011. During the second season of Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, Prakash also served as the program's host.

 Age

Prakash Raj, born Prakash Rai on March 26, 1965, is an Indian actor, politician, film director, producer, and television host. He is currently 53 years old as of 2023. His zodiac sign is Aries.  

Education

In Bengaluru, Karnataka, Prakash Raj attended St. Joseph's Boys' High School to further his education. After completing his secondary education, he enrolled in Bengaluru's St. Joseph's College of Commerce. He initially pursued a Pre-University Course (PUC) from 1983 to 1985. He attended the same college from 1985 to 1987, but he later left his BCom program there. Prakash Raj pursued a successful career in the entertainment industry despite not finishing his bachelor's degree, showcasing his enormous talent and adaptability as an actor, film director, producer, and television host.

Family

Prakash Raj, born on March 26, 1965, in Bangalore, comes from a mixed heritage. His father is of Tuluva descent, while his mother is Kannada. He grew up alongside his brother, Prasad Raj, who is also an actor. Prakash Raj completed his schooling at St. Joseph's Indian High School and then joined St. Joseph's College of Commerce in Bangalore.

It was actress Geetha who introduced Prakash Raj to renowned Tamil film director K. Balachander. Upon K. Balachander's advice, Prakash Raj changed his surname from 'Rai' to 'Raj,' although he is still referred to as Prakash Rai in his home state of Karnataka. While Prakash Raj's father follows Hinduism and his mother practices Roman Catholicism, he personally identifies himself as a non-believer.

Wife

In 1994, Prakash Raj married actress Lalitha Kumari, and they were blessed with two daughters named Meghana and Pooja, as well as a son named Sidhu. Tragically, their son Sidhu passed away in 2004. The couple eventually divorced in 2009.

Subsequently, Prakash Raj tied the knot with choreographer Pony Verma on August 24, 2010. They have a son named Vedhanth, who was born in 2015.

Career

Prakash Raj initially started his acting career by performing consecutively in stage productions for a monthly salary of 300. Additionally, he has a noteworthy resume of about 2,000 street theater performances. With serials like "Bisilu Kudure" (Kannada) and "Guddada Bhootha" (Tulu and Kannada) on Doordarshan, he made his television debut.

Prakash Raj became well-known for his supporting parts in Kannada movies like "Ramachari," "Ranadheera," "Nishkarsha," and "Lockup Death," which highlighted his impressive acting and dialogue delivery abilities. He co-starred with Vishnuvardhan in the K. S. L. Swamy film "Harakeya Kuri," which served as his breakthrough performance. Geetha, the lead actress in the movie, took notice of him and introduced him to renowned Tamil director K. Balachander.

For Kannada films, Prakash Raj adopted the screen name "Prakash Rai," but K. Balachander later changed it to "Prakash Raj" for his debut Tamil film "Duet." Since then, he has appeared in numerous films in a variety of languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi, garnering praise from critics and winning numerous awards for his work. 

In addition to acting, Prakash Raj has also directed films like "Naanu Nanna Kanasu" and produced notable films such as "Dhaya," "Abhiyum Naanum," and "Oggarane." Apart from his contributions to the film industry, he has also been involved in humanitarian work and had a brief political career, contesting the 2019 Indian general election as an independent candidate. Prakash Raj has faced controversies, including bans by the Telugu film industry and disputes over certain scenes and dialogues in films, but he has always stood firm on his principles and dedication to his craft.

 Best Works Of Prakash Raj

Kanchivaram 

PlayKanchivaram is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language period drama film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film stars Prakash Raj and Shriya Reddy and has music by M. G. Sreekumar, cinematography by Tirru, editing by Arun Kumar, and art direction by Sabu Cyril. The audiography was done by M. R. Rajakrishnan. The movie depicts the pitiable state of the silk weavers in the town of Kanchipuram, as they were unorganized and marginalized to live a perpetual ‘hand-to-mouth’ existence. The movie depicts their struggles and ends with a comment about the cooperative movement that emerged to take care of the interests of the workers.

The movie premiered on September 12, 2008, at the 33rd Toronto International Film Festival after receiving censor board approval in 2007. Additionally, it was exhibited at the Pittsburgh Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival. At the 55th National Film Awards, the movie went on to win Best Film and Best Actor for Prakash Raj. Priyadarshan won the Zenith Asia Award for best director for this film. The story is set in the silk weavers' town of Kanchipuram, in post-independence India, though the film was shot mainly in Mandya (Melukote Temple) and Mysore.

Iruvar

Mani Ratnam co-wrote, produced, and directed the 1997 Indian Tamil-language epic political drama film Iruvar. The movie is set against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu's cinema and politics and is inspired by the lives of M. Karunanidhi, M. G. Ramachandran, and J. Jayalalithaa. Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Revathi, Gautami, Tabu, and Nassar are among the ensemble cast members.

Santosh Sivan handled the cinematography for the high-budget movie, which featured an original score by A. R. Rahman. After only making a cameo appearance in Gopura Vasalile, this movie served as Mohanlal's Tamil film debut.

The movie was shown at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival in the Masters category. Iruvar went on to become a commercial and critical success, winning two National Film Awards and the Best Film prize at the Belgrade International Film Festival. Iruvar was listed by critic Rachel Dwyer as one of the top 1000 movies of all time by the British Film Institute in 2012. Ratnam stated in a 2013 interview that he thought Iruvar was his best work. DTS 6 track sound recording was used.

Singham 

Singham is a 2011 Indian action movie in the Hindi language that was written by Yunus Sajawal and Farhad-Sajid and directed by Rohit Shetty and made by Reliance Entertainment. It acts as the opening chapter of Shetty's Cop Universe. Ajay Devgn plays the lead role of Bajirao Singham, a police officer, alongside Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj, who also appears in the remake of Hari's 2010 Tamil film of the same name.

The movie received a positive response when it was theatrically released in India on July 22, 2011, and it became a box office smash after grossing $876 million in India on its opening day and $1.57 billion globally against a 410 million dollar budget.

Devgn and Shetty worked together on the 2014 sequel, Singham Returns, following the success of the first film at the box office. Devgn reprised his role in Shetty's directorials Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021) which together form Shetty's Cop Universe.

Bommarillu

In his debut as a director, Bhaskar co-wrote and directed the 2006 Telugu-language romantic comedy-family drama film Bommarillu, which was also produced by Dil Raju. The film stars Siddharth, Genelia, Prakash Raj and Jayasudha. The film primarily revolves around the relationship between a father and son, in which the father's excessive concern for his son, and interference in his life, leads to the latter harbouring bitterness towards his overbearing father. The cinematography was handled by Vijay C Chakravarthy and editing done by Marthand K. Venkatesh. The music for the film was composed by Devi Sri Prasad, whose soundtrack of the film received positive reviews from critics.

The film opened to Indian audiences on 9 August 2006. On its way to winning state honours and rave reviews, the film went on to win several Filmfare Awards among other prominent awards and was one of the highest grossing Telugu films of that year. Following the film's box office success, it was remade in Tamil as Santosh Subramaniam (2008), in Bengali as Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (2008), in Odia as Dream Girl (2009), and in Hindi as It's My Life (2020).

Career Timeline

 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 Supporti 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 endeavors, 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 behavior 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 develop 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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