https://arisepedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Gajraj_RaoGajraj Rao - Revision history2026-05-15T17:19:45ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.41.1https://arisepedia.org/index.php?title=Gajraj_Rao&diff=1112&oldid=prevSakshi Singh: Gajraj Rao2026-02-11T07:05:56Z<p>Gajraj Rao</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{SHORTDESC:Indian actor and director (born 1971)}}<br />
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|description=Gajraj Rao is an Indian actor and director known for his work in Hindi cinema. He gained widespread recognition for his performance in Badhaai Ho, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.<br />
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{| class="infobox" style="width:22em; font-size:90%; text-align:left; border-spacing:0px; background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px solid #aaa; float:right; margin-left:1em;"<br />
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size:larger;" |'''Gajraj Rao'''<br />
|-<br />
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Gajraj Rao.png|alt=Gajraj Rao|256x256px]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Born'''<br />
| 11 December 1971<br>Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India<br />
|-<br />
| '''Nationality'''<br />
| Indian<br />
|-<br />
| '''Occupation'''<br />
| Actor, Director, Producer<br />
|-<br />
| '''Years active'''<br />
| 1994–present<br />
|-<br />
| '''Spouse'''<br />
| Sanjana Rao<br />
|-<br />
| '''Children'''<br />
| 2 sons<br />
|}<br />
'''Gajraj Rao''' (born 11 December 1971) is an Indian actor and director known for his work in Hindi cinema. He gained widespread recognition for his performance in the comedy-drama film ''Badhaai Ho'' (2018), for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.<br />
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== Early Life and Education ==<br />
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Gajraj Rao was born in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, and was brought up in Delhi. He belongs to a lower-middle-class family; his father worked with the Indian Railways. He completed his schooling and higher education in Delhi.<br />
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At the age of 16, he joined the theatre group ''Act One'', where he worked alongside actors such as Manoj Bajpayee and Ashish Vidyarthi. During his early years, he balanced theatre work with odd jobs to support himself.<ref>https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/growing-up-in-a-middle-class-environment-helps-any-actor-gajraj-rao-6618107/</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
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=== Early Career ===<br />
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Rao made his film debut in 1994 with a minor role in ''Bandit Queen'', directed by Shekhar Kapur. He continued working in supporting roles and gradually built his presence in the industry.<ref>https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/gajraj-rao</ref><br />
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He gained attention for his performance in the critically acclaimed film ''Black Friday'' (2004), which brought him wider recognition as a character actor.<ref>https://www.mynation.com/biography/gajraj-rao-s-biography-iwh-s05ekw</ref><br />
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=== Breakthrough ===<br />
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His major breakthrough came with ''Badhaai Ho'' (2018), directed by Amit Sharma. In the film, he portrayed a middle-aged man dealing with the unexpected pregnancy of his wife. The film was both a critical and commercial success. His performance earned him several accolades, including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and recognition at various award ceremonies.<ref>https://www.masala.com/bollywood-news/it-is-all-destiny-meet-gajraj-rao-ayushmann-khurranas-father-in-badhaai-ho-271764</ref><br />
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=== Later Work ===<br />
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Following the success of ''Badhaai Ho'', Rao appeared in several notable films, including ''Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'' (2020), ''Ludo'' (2020), ''Lootcase'' (2020), ''Maja Ma'' (2022), ''Bholaa'' (2023), ''Satyaprem Ki Katha'' (2023), ''Maidaan'' (2024), and ''Yudhra'' (2024).<br />
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He is known for portraying relatable middle-class characters with depth and authenticity.<br />
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=== Directorial Work ===<br />
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In addition to acting, Gajraj Rao has directed short films. He made his directorial debut with the short film ''Churri'' (2013), followed by ''Kuchh Na Kaho'' (2016). Both projects were appreciated for their storytelling and execution.<br />
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== Personal Life ==<br />
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Gajraj Rao is married to Sanjana Rao. The couple has two sons, one of whom is pursuing graphic design. He currently resides in Mumbai.<br />
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== Awards and Recognition ==<br />
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* 25th Screen Awards (2018) – Best Actor (Critics) for ''Badhaai Ho''<br />
* 64th Filmfare Awards (2019) – Best Supporting Actor for ''Badhaai Ho''<br />
* Zee Cine Awards (2019) – Extraordinary Jodi of the Year for ''Badhaai Ho''<br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
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Gajraj Rao is regarded as one of the most dependable supporting actors in contemporary Hindi cinema. With a background in theatre and a steady rise through character roles, he has built a reputation for delivering grounded and memorable performances.<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Gajraj}}<br />
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[[Category:1971 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film directors]]<br />
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]<br />
[[Category:Hindi film actors]]<br />
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[[simple:Gajraj Rao]]</div>Sakshi Singh