Raj Yadav

Rajkummar Rao (born Raj Kumar Yadav; 31 August 1984) is an Indian actor. Known for his work across a wide spectrum of genres, he has starred in over thirty films in Hindi cinema, spanning both independent and commercial films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards, and an Asia Pacific Screen Award. In 2017, he was featured on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list. After training at the Film and Television Institute of India, Rao made his film debut in the anthology Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), followed by supporting roles in Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (both 2012). He achieved his breakthrough in 2013 with acclaimed performances in the dramas Kai Po Che! and Shahid. His portrayal of lawyer Shahid Azmi in the latter earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. Rao gained further recognition with roles in Queen (2014), Aligarh (2015), and Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), with the last winning him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He then starred in independent films such as Trapped (2016) and Newton (2017), earning critical acclaim and recognition, including the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor. His commercial breakthrough came with the comedy horror Stree (2018). He continued to earn praise for starring roles in Ludo (2020), Monica, O My Darling (2022) and Srikanth (2024). He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for portraying a closeted gay man in Badhaai Do (2022). Despite subsequent commercial setbacks, Rao regained success with the sequel Stree 2 (2024) and the fantasy film Bhool Chuk Maaf (2025). While the former ranks as his highest-grossing release, he faced criticism for repeatedly taking on similar roles.