Gajraj Rao Age, Wiki, Wife, Family, Education, Career, Net Worth

Gajraj Rao is an Indian actor, writer, and ad filmmaker known for his natural comic timing and strong character roles in Hindi cinema. 

He was born on 11 January 1971 (55 years old ) in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, and his family shifted to Delhi when he was five, where he grew up around railway colonies. 

Gajraj made his Hindi film debut with Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen in 1994 and later became known for films such as Talvar, Blackmail, and Badhaai Ho. 

His breakthrough came with Badhaai Ho, where his performance as Jeetendra Kaushik brought wide appreciation and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Quick Facts of Gajraj Rao

Full Name	Gajraj Rao
Profession	Actor, writer, and ad filmmaker
Age	55 years old
Date of Birth	11 January 1971
Nationality	Indian
Zodiac/Sun Sign	Capricorn
Birthplace	Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India
Current Address	Mumbai, Maharashtra
Gender	Male

Gajraj Rao Early Life and Education

Gajraj Rao was born in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, and grew up mainly in Delhi. His family moved to Delhi when he was around five years old, and he spent much of his childhood in different railway colonies in the capital. 

His father worked with Indian Railways, and Rao’s childhood around railway colonies gave him exposure to people from different regions and cultures. He became close to Bengali families during his childhood in the Delhi railway colony, which helped him develop a strong connection with the Bengali language and culture. 

Gajraj Rao’s interest in performance began early. His first major exposure to acting and performance came at the age of 16, when he joined a theatre group.

Education

Actor Gajraj Rao completed his higher education at Delhi University, which served as the launchpad for his acting career.

While the specific college or degree he pursued remains undisclosed, his formative years in education heavily shaped his entry into the entertainment industry. Raised in a lower-middle-class family, he completed his primary and secondary schooling in Delhi while living across various railway colonies.

During his university days in Delhi, he attended a staging of the play Sandhya Chhaya. This single performance enamoured him with the performing arts, steering his focus toward acting. 

At just 16 years old, he joined the prominent Delhi theatre group Act One. This hands-on environment functioned as his real training ground, where he honed his skills alongside future industry stalwarts like Manoj Bajpayee and Ashish Vidyarthi.

School	Yet to be updated
Alma Mater	Delhi University
Highest Qualification	Yet to be updated

Gajraj Rao Personal Life

Gajraj Rao leads a grounded, quiet personal life in Mumbai alongside his wife, Sanjana Rao, and their two sons.

He prioritises keeping his family life away from the typical Bollywood media glare, focusing heavily on his role as a parent and partner. 

Wife

Gajraj Rao’s wife is Sanjana Rao. He credits her as his ultimate “lighthouse”. He openly confesses that during his aimless youth in theatre, she sat him down, questioned his financial plans, and motivated him to build a stable career. 

Her father was in the Border Security Force (BSF) and posted in Kalyani, giving Gajraj a strong, fond connection to Kolkata and Bengali culture.

He often shares that his family keeps him humble. When he expressed anxiety to his wife before the release of Badhaai Ho, she bluntly reminded him that he “was no Ranbir Kapoor or Ranveer Singh,” so the film’s failure wouldn’t destroy any massive superstar image, giving him the perfect reality check. 

In casual interviews, he humorously shares small details about their marriage, such as his wife being an absolute fanatic for Pani Puri, joking that if he could pack her a four-compartment tiffin box, it would contain Pani Puri in every single layer! 

Children

Gajraj Rao and Sanjana Rao have two sons. The Elder Son has pursued a career path in graphic design. 

His elder child was 24, and the younger child was 13 at the time of the interview, when he mentioned them. 

Family

Gajraj Rao has a close-knit, lower-middle-class family background in Delhi and now lives with his immediate family in Mumbai. 

Father

His father worked with Indian Railways and was also connected with the employees’ union. 

Rao has said that his childhood in railway colonies exposed him to different people, food habits, and languages. In an interview, Gajraj jokingly shared that his father was once offered a role in a Manoj Kumar movie. 

Decades later, his father would still jokingly tell him, “Mujhe bhi koi role dilwao” (Get me a film role too). 

Relationship Status	Married
Wife	Sanjana Rao
Children	Two sons
Parents	Yet to be updated
Siblings	Yet to be updated

Gajraj Rao Career

Gajraj Rao is an Indian actor who appears predominantly in Hindi films. He is widely known for his performance in the comedy-drama film Badhaai Ho, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Theatre, Writing, and the Road to Cinema (1987 to 1993)

Gajraj Rao, at the start of his acting career, used to do theatre and odd jobs for a living simultaneously. 

His first job was in a tailor’s shop named Iqbal Tailors in Delhi. 

Later, one of his friends offered him a job in a garment company. He was good at literature, so he started working as a freelance writer for Navbharat and Hindustan Times. 

Soon, he got an opportunity to write anchor scripts for the Doordarshan channel. 

While he was working as a scriptwriter, he met the Indian television producer Siddhartha Basu, who offered him a job in a show based on audience interaction. 

He then met the Bollywood director and writer Pradeep Sarkar, which was a turning point in his life. He started working with him as a writer in ad films and then moved to Mumbai along with Pradeep Sarkar. 

Film Debut and Early Supporting Roles (1994 to 1999)

Rao was introduced to Shekhar Kapur by his friend Tigmanshu Dhulia. He was offered the role of Ashok Chand Thakur in Kapur’s award-winning movie Bandit Queen (1994). 

This small but significant debut marked his entry into Hindi cinema and gave him an early association with one of the most critically discussed Indian films of that decade. 

In 1995, he was a part of the Dimple Kapadia starrer Hindi film Pathreela Raasta. 

He continued building his presence in Hindi cinema through the mid-1990s with minor roles while simultaneously staying active in theatre. 

Some of his memorable performances include playing a CBI officer in Dil Se (1998). Dil Se, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, was a major mainstream Hindi film and gave him national-level exposure as a supporting performer. 

Continued Supporting Work and Ad Film Production (2000 to 2006)

In 2000, he appeared in Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, directed by Hansal Mehta, playing Tiwari Ji. 

The film was a significant critical work that starred Manoj Bajpayee, reconnecting him with his Act One theatre colleague on the big screen. 

He also played the role of a RAW Officer in the movie Aks (2001), directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. 

Aks starred Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpayee and was a major-budget thriller that gave Gajraj Rao visibility in a high-profile production.

In 2002, he appeared in Chhal, Dil Hai Tumhara, directed by Priyadarshan, and Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai. 

These were relatively minor appearances but kept him consistently present in the industry during a period when character actors struggled to find meaningful screen time. 

In 2003, he appeared in the critically appreciated Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, directed by Sudhir Mishra, playing the character of a Junior Bihari constable. 

The film won multiple National Film Awards and remains one of the most respected Indian films of the 2000s, giving Gajraj Rao an association with serious, award-winning cinema. 

Also in 2003, he co-founded the advertising production company Code Red Films along with Subrat Ray.

Code Red Films has been recognised both nationally and internationally, winning prizes at festivals such as Adfest Asia, Promax Singapore, The Cup, New York Festivals, and Asia Pacific Advertising. 

Commercials for major companies like Maruti Suzuki, Samsung, Cadbury, the Reliance Foundation, HUL, McDonald’s, Flipkart, and Procter and Gamble have been produced by his company. 

In 2005, he appeared in Yahaan, directed by Shoojit Sircar, playing the Home Minister. The film was a sensitive love story set against the backdrop of the conflict in Kashmir and gave him yet another meaningful film credit. 

Critical Recognition Through Black Friday and Aamir (2007 to 2008)

He gained attention for his performance in the critically acclaimed film Black Friday (2004), which brought him wider recognition as a character actor. 

The film, directed by Anurag Kashyap and based on journalist S. Hussain Zaidi’s book about the 1993 Bombay bombings, was released in 2007 after years of legal delays. 

Gajraj played the role of Dawood Phanse, one of the key figures in the film’s ensemble. The film is considered one of the landmark works of Indian parallel cinema. 

Also in 2007 he appeared in No Smokingg directed by Anurag Kashyap, playing the character of Rajendra Kishan Dhingra. 

This second consecutive collaboration with Kashyap reinforced his relationship with one of Hindi cinema’s most distinctive filmmakers and gave him credibility in the world of alternative and experimental cinema. 

In 2008, he appeared in Aamir, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, playing The Caller, a significant and menacing antagonist in the taut thriller. 

The film was critically praised and became one of the more acclaimed Hindi thriller films of that year.

Web Series Debut and Digital Visibility (2015 to 2016)

In 2015, he debuted in the Hindi web series Bang Baaja Baaraat, in which he played the character of Murli Prasad Sharma. 

The Y-Films series was a landmark production in the early days of Indian digital content and gave him a new platform to showcase his comic timing and emotional range to younger streaming audiences.

Also in 2015, his visibility increased with the role of the bumbling Uttar Pradesh police inspector in Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar (2015). 

Talvar was one of the most talked-about Hindi films of 2015, depicting the Aarushi Talwar double murder case, and Rao’s portrayal of Inspector Dhaniram earned him his first major award nominations.

In 2016, he appeared in Budhia Singh: Born to Run, directed by Soumendra Padhi, playing a Child Welfare Committee chairman. The film told the inspiring true story of child marathon runner Budhia Singh and received critical appreciation and award recognition. 

He also acted in A Day With RD Sharma (2016), a TVF web series in which he played Professor RD Sharma.

Rangoon, TVF, and Pre-Breakthrough Phase (2017)

In 2017, he appeared in Rangoon, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, starring alongside Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut, playing the character Ahuja. 

Rangoon was a period war drama and one of the most ambitious Hindi films of that year, giving him an association with one of Hindi cinema’s most prestigious directors.

Also in 2017, he acted in F.A.T.H.E.R.S., a TVF web series in which he played the character Bhatia. The series became one of TVF’s most warmly received productions and significantly boosted his digital profile ahead of his career-defining breakthrough the following year. 

Breakthrough Year with Badhaai Ho and Blackmail (2018)

2018 was the year that transformed Gajraj Rao from a respected character actor into a household name. 

He appeared in Blackmail, directed by Abhinay Deo, playing the character Chawla in the dark comedy opposite Irrfan Khan. The film was appreciated for its sharp writing and ensemble performances. 

His 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. 

Opposite Neena Gupta and alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, the film tackled a socially taboo subject with humour and warmth. It became one of the biggest Hindi film hits of 2018, earning over 130 crore rupees at the box office on a small budget. 

The success of Badhaai Ho established Rao as the new face of Bollywood father figures and earned him praise for revitalising character roles for middle-aged actors. 

Also in 2018, he acted in Tech Conversations with Dad (2018), another popular TVF web series in which he played Dad. 

Gajraj and Mrunal Thakur shared the casting roster for the 2018 hard-hitting social drama Love Sonia.  

Post-Breakthrough Consolidation (2019)

In 2019, he appeared in Made in China, directed by Mikhil Musale, playing the character Abhay Chopra opposite Rajkummar Rao. 

The film was a comedy with a strong satirical angle and reinforced his comfort with mainstream Hindi commercial entertainers. 

Also in 2019, he acted in TVF Tripling Season 2, playing Prince Alexander. His continued association with TVF through multiple seasons and projects helped him maintain a strong parallel digital presence alongside his film career. 

Shubh Mangal, Lootcase, and OTT Appearances (2020)

In 2020, Rao played Shankar Tripathi, a conservative father grappling with his son’s sexuality, in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. 

The film, directed by Hitesh Kewalya and starring Ayushmann Khurrana, was a landmark in Hindi mainstream cinema for its candid and humorous treatment of same-sex relationships and earned him his second Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He also played the endearing everyman in the comedy Lootcase (2020). Released directly on Disney+ Hotstar during the pandemic, Lootcase performed well on the streaming platform and further cemented his versatility as an actor capable of handling light-hearted lead and supporting roles with equal ease.

Also in 2020, he appeared in the Netflix series Masaba Masaba playing himself, and in PariWar on Disney+Hotstar playing Kashiram Narayan, continuing his growing presence across streaming platforms. 

Ray, Short Film Direction, and Gunehgaar (2021 to 2022)

In 2021, he appeared in Ray, the Netflix anthology series inspired by the works of Satyajit Ray, playing Aslam Baig in the episode Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa, directed by Abhishek Chaubey. 

The anthology, which also featured Manoj Bajpayee, Ali Fazal, and Harshvardhan Kapoor, was one of Netflix India’s most talked-about original productions of that year. 

In 2022, he appeared in Maja Ma, directed by Anand Tiwari, opposite Madhuri Dixit, playing the supportive husband Manohar Patel. The film, distributed by Amazon Prime Video, was a drama that addressed themes of identity and family with a festive backdrop. 

He also appeared in Thai Massage, directed by Vikas Chandra, playing the lead role of Atmaram Dubey. 

Additionally, he appeared in Gunehgaar (2022), a television movie in which he played the lead role of Trilok K Bansal, receiving acclaim for his performance. 

Recent Work (2023 to 2025)

Gajraj Rao has maintained a consistent and varied output across films and web series through this period, with some of his most commercially prominent appearances to date.

In 2023, he appeared in Bholaa, directed by and starring Ajay Devgn, playing the villain Devraj in this official Hindi remake of the Tamil film Kaithi. 

He then appeared in Satyaprem Ki Katha, directed by Sameer Vidwans, opposite Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, playing the father Narayan in a warmly received family drama. 

He also appeared in Trial Period alongside Shakti Kapoor, directed by Priyal Khandwala, playing the uncle Srivastav in the comedy drama. 

In 2024, Rao portrayed Roy Chowdhury, a prominent sports journalist, in the biographical sports drama Maidaan, which chronicles the life of football coach Syed Abdul Rahim and India’s golden era in the sport, marking a departure into historical and inspirational territory. 

The film, directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and starring Ajay Devgn in the lead, was one of the most anticipated Hindi releases of 2024. 

Also in 2024, he appeared in Bad News, directed by Anand Tiwari, opposite Vicky Kaushal, Tripti Dimri, and Ammy Virk, playing Akhil’s dead father in the horror comedy. 

He also portrayed Karthik Rathore, a foster father, in the action thriller Yudhra opposite Siddhant Chaturvedi and Malavika Mohanan. 

In 2025, he appeared in Jolly LLB 3, directed by Subhash Kapoor, opposite Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, playing Haribhai Khaitan in the third instalment of the beloved courtroom comedy franchise, released on September 19, 2025. 

He also led the comedy web series Dupahiya on Amazon Prime Video as Banwari Jha and appeared as Ajit Pathak in the Netflix crime thriller Dabba Cartel. 

Upcoming Projects

Gajraj Rao has three projects listed in production, with two in post-production and one in pre-production, on his official IMDb Pro profile, confirming an active pipeline of upcoming releases across film and television. Specific titles and release dates for these projects have not been officially announced. 

Gajraj Rao Awards and Achievements

Gajraj Rao has accumulated a total of 9 wins and 22 nominations across major award ceremonies.

• Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (64th Filmfare Awards, 2019) for Badhaai Ho.
• 25th Screen Awards Best Actor Critics Award (2018) for Badhaai Ho.
• Zee Cine Award for Extraordinary Jodi of the Year (2019) jointly with Neena Gupta for Badhaai Ho.
• Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actor Male in a Film (2023) for Maja Ma.
• FOI Online Award for Best Supporting Actor for Badhaai Ho (2019). 
• Critics’ Choice Film Award India for Best Supporting Actor for Badhaai Ho (2019).
• Hitlist OTT Award for Best Actor for Maja Ma (2023), one of two Hitlist OTT Award recognitions he has received for his digital platform film performances.
• News18 REEL Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor for Badhaai Ho (2019).
• Star Eminence Award for Best Supporting Actor for Badhaai Ho (2019), one of two Star Eminence Award recognitions received across his career.
• Bollywood Film Journalist Award for Best Supporting Actor for Badhaai Ho (2019). 

Gajraj Rao Controversies

Gajraj Rao has mostly maintained a clean public image, with no major verified controversy.

Instead of being involved in controversies, Rao frequently makes headlines for his candid, unfiltered commentary on the inner workings of the film industry, the exploitation of newcomers, and his early professional struggles.

Gajraj Rao Net Worth

Below is the estimated net worth and annual salary of Gajraj Rao:

Net Worth in Dollars Approx	Yet to be updated
Salary Approx	₹70 Lakh-₹1.25 Crore

Gajraj Rao Height, Weight, and Physical Stats

Below are the height, weight, and physical stats of Gajraj Rao:

Height	In centimetres: 175 cm In meters: 1.75 m In feet and inches: 5 feet 9 inches
Weight	In kg: 75 kg In lbs: 165 lbs
Body Measurements	Yet to be updated
Hair Color	Salt and Pepper
Eye Color	Black

Gajraj Rao Social Media

Instagram	@gajrajrao
X	@raogajraj
Facebook	@gajrajrao101
LinkedIn	@gajraj rao

Interesting Facts about Gajraj Rao

• He worked as a freelance writer for Hindustan Times and Navbharat. 
• He revealed on The Kapil Sharma Show that he calls his wife Sanjana every 30 minutes.
• His production company, Code Red Films, received national recognition for an ad film on respecting the Indian National Anthem. 
• He is an avid reader with an interest in Hindi, Arabic, and Bengali literature. 
• He is a cricket enthusiast. His favourite cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. 
• His elder son is pursuing a career in graphic design. His family reflects a mix of cinema and visual arts. 
• Gajraj Rao became a mainstream household name after Badhaai Ho in 2018. His success after the age of 45 is seen as a strong late-career breakthrough in Hindi cinema.

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