Gajraj Rao, a prominent Indian actor and advertisement filmmaker, is celebrated for his versatile roles and contributions to the Indian entertainment industry. His career showcases a remarkable journey from humble beginnings to significant success.
Wiki/Biography
Gajraj Rao was born in 1971 (age 52 years as of 2023) in Dungarpur, Rajasthan. He completed his schooling in Rajasthan and Delhi. His educational background laid a foundation for his later career in writing and storytelling.
Physical Appearance
- Height (approx.): 5’ 9”
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Family, Caste & Wife
Raised in a lower-middle-class family in Delhi, after being born in Rajasthan, his father worked for Indian Railways. He’s happily married to Sanjana Rao, and they have two sons. His elder son is pursuing a career in graphic design.
Career
Rao’s career path is quite unique. After school, at just 16, he joined the theatre group ‘Act One’ alongside renowned actors Manoj Bajpayee and Ashish Vidyarthi. This early exposure to theatre shaped his future.
Initially juggling acting with odd jobs – including working at a tailor’s shop and a garment company – he leveraged his literary skills, freelancing for Navbharat and Hindustan Times. His writing led him to scriptwriting for Doordarshan. This opened doors to collaborations with prominent figures in the Indian entertainment industry, including Siddhartha Basu and Pradeep Sarkar.
His collaboration with Pradeep Sarkar proved pivotal, leading him to ad film writing and eventually to Mumbai. Further networking brought him to Shekhar Kapur, landing him a role in “Bandit Queen” (1994).
In 2003, he co-founded “Code Red Films,” an advertisement production company with Subrat Ray. The company has produced commercials for major brands and received national and international awards (Adfest Asia, Promax Singapore, The Cup, NYF, and Asia Pacific Advertising).
Alongside his ad film work, Gajraj Rao consistently took on acting roles in various Bollywood films, including notable appearances in “Dil Se” (1998), “Aks” (2001), “Dil Hai Tumhaara” (2002), “Black Friday” (2007), and “Aamir” (2008). His journey into web series began in 2015 with “Bang Baaja Baaraat,” followed by work with TVF.
His directorial debut came in 2016 with the short video “Rorito: Write the New,” and he also produced documentaries such as “Budhia Singh: Born to Run” (2016) and “The Tribal Scoop” (2018). His breakthrough role in “Badhaai Ho” (2018) catapulted him to widespread recognition. He continued his success with films like “Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan” and “Lootcase” in 2020.
Favourite Things
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Food | Chole Bhature |
| Actor | Shah Rukh Khan |
| Actress | Deepika Padukone |
| Cricketers | Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar |
| Writers/Poets | Premchand, Elif Shafak, Hisham Matar, Maha Gargash, Ibrahim Eissa, and Rabindranath Tagore |
| Web-Series | Sacred Games (2018) |
Facts/Trivia
- Gajraj Rao’s upbringing in a railway colony exposed him to diverse dialects, influencing his acting skills.
- His theatrical journey began during his time at Delhi University after witnessing a captivating performance at Shri Ram Centre.
- “Code Red Films” received accolades for an ad film highlighting the importance of respecting the Indian National Anthem.
- He credits Nitesh Tiwari and V Manikantan for their significant roles in shaping his career in advertising.
- His hobbies include traveling and reading.
- He has appeared on “The Kapil Sharma Show” to promote his films.
- His dedication to keeping his wife updated on his life is a testament to their strong bond.
