Raai Laxmi, born Lakshmi Rai, is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films.
She was born on 5 May 1989 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. She is 37 years old.
Before entering films, Laxmi trained in Bharatanatyam and other classical dance forms and worked as a model in advertisements.
Laxmi is a recipient of the SIIMA Award for her stylish choices.
Quick Facts of Raai Laxmi
| Full Name | Lakshmi Rai (professionally known as Raai Laxmi) |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Date of Birth | 5 May 1989 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Birthplace | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Current Address | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Gender | Female |
Raai Laxmi Early Life and Education
Raai Laxmi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, into a Saurashtrian (Gujarati) family with ancestral roots in Belgaum, Karnataka, and the Kutchi community.
From an early age, Laxmi showed a strong interest in performing arts.
She trained in Bharatanatyam and other classical dance forms during her childhood, and was actively involved in cultural events throughout her school years.
It was her love for the stage that eventually led her toward modelling and acting.
Education
Raai Laxmi completed her primary schooling in Bengaluru.
Later, she moved to Belgaum for her high school education.
She was an active participant in cultural activities during her student years.
| School | Yet to be updated |
| Alma Mater | Yet to be updated |
| Highest Qualification | Yet to be updated |
Raai Laxmi Personal Life
Raai Laxmi is currently single. But she has been romantically linked with cricketers and actors.
Past Relationships
It is known that Raai Laxmi is romantically involved with Indian cricketers MS Dhoni, S. Sreesanth, and Vikram Singh.
However, she has not officially confirmed or denied these rumours.
Family
Raai Laxmi was born the youngest of three children.
Her father, Ram Rai (also known as Ram Raibagi), was a businessman who passed away in November 2020.
Raai’s mother, Manjula Rai (also known as Manjula Raibagi), is a homemaker.
She has two elder sisters named Reshma Raai and Ashwini Raai.
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Rumored Boyfriends | MS Dhoni, S. Sreesanth and Vikram Singh |
| Parents | Father: Ram Rai (Ram Raibagi) Mother: Manjula Rai (Manjula Raibagi) |
| Siblings | Sister: Reshma Raai, Ashwini Raai |
Read also: South Indian Actress Name List With Photos
Raai Laxmi Career
Raai Laxmi began her professional journey as a model, appearing in television commercials and print advertisements from a young age.
Her transition into acting came after director R. V. Udayakumar was impressed by her performance in a short film, Valmiki.
In 2005, Laxmi began her acting career in the Tamil film Karka Kasadara opposite Vikranth.
In the same year, she appeared in the comedy film Kundakka Mandakka alongside R. Parthiban.
Laxmi also marked her Kannada debut in Valmiki opposite Shiva Rajkumar.
In 2006, she appeared in the Tamil action-masala film Dharmapuri directed by Perarasu.
In the next year, Laxmi was cast in the Tamil romance film Nenjai Thodu and made her Malayalam debut inRock n’ Roll opposite Mohanlal.
In 2008, she was cast in the action thriller Dhaam Dhoom alongside Jayam Ravi.
Later, she was seen in Annan Thampi opposite Mohanlal, 2 Harihar Nagar, and Chattambinadu.
Laxmi was also cast in Evidam Swargamanu, opposite Mammootty.
In the same year, she appeared in the Tamil film Vaamanan, where she played a glamorous supermodel.
Laxmi made special appearances in the films In Ghost House Inn and Pen Singam in 2010.
In 2011, Laxmi’s first release was the Malayalam blockbuster Christian Brothers, which was a major commercial success.
In the same year, she starred in the Tamil comedy horror Kanchana.
Later, Raai was cast in the Venkat Prabhu-directed action thriller Mankatha alongside Ajith Kumar.
In 2012, she reprised her role from Kanchana in its Kannada remake Kalpana.
In 2014, Laxmi starred in the Tamil films Irumbu Kuthirai with Priya Anand and Aranmanai. Thereafter, she was cast in the Malayalam film RajadhiRaja.
She starred in the Tamil films Bangalore Naatkal and Sowkarpettai.
Raai also performed an item number in the Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh opposite Pawan Kalyan.
In 2016, she began her Hindi film career with her Hindi film Akira alongside Sonakshi Sinha.
The next year, Raai appeared in special item songs in two films. She performed an item number in the Telugu movie Khaidi No. 150 alongside Chiranjeevi.
She also did an item number in the Tamil movie Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva opposite Raghava Lawrence.
In the same year, she played the lead role in her second Hindi film Julie 2.
Raai returned to Malayalam cinema with Oru Kuttanadan Blog starring Mammootty in 2018.
Next year, she appeared in the Telugu horror film Where Is the Venkatalakshmi and the Tamil horror film Neeya 2, and Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000.
In 2021, Raai starred in the Tamil horror fantasy Cinderella alongside Sakshi Agarwal.
Laxmi made a special appearance in the song “Vaadi Vaasal” alongside Legend Saravanan in the multilingual action film The Legend in 2022.
In the next year, she made a special cameo appearance in the hit Hindi action thriller Bholaa, starring alongside Ajay Devgn and Tabu
In 2024, she took on the lead role of IPS officer Rachel Punnoose in the Malayalam suspense thriller DNA.
In 2025, Raai Laxmi starred in the action-thriller movie Janata Bar alongside Deeksha Panth.
She was seen in the Tamil psychological horror film Yaar alongside Sonia Agarwal.
Raai Laxmi’s next feature film Woolf was released in March 2026, in which she is cast with Avinash, Anasuya Bharadwaj and Prabhu Deva.
Raai Laxmi Upcoming Film Projects
She is set to appear in Anandha Bhairavi alongside Anjali and Thrigun. The film is currently in shooting.
Raai Laxmi Awards and Achievements
Raai Laxmi has received several awards and nominations over her career for her versatile performances across multiple languages:
Her Major Wins
- Asianet Film Award (2009): Won Most Popular Actress for her performance in the Malayalam film Evidam Swargamanu.
- Filmfare Award (2012): Won Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) for her negative role in Mankatha.
- Chennai Times Film Award (2012): Won the Best Negative Role Female award for her performance in Mankatha.
- South Indian International Movie Award (SIIMA) (2012): Won Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema award, reflecting her popularity and screen presence.
- Filmfare Award Nomination (2009): Nominated for Dhaam Dhoom in Best Supporting Actress (Tamil).
Her Key Nominations
- Filmfare Award Nomination (2009): Nominated in the Best Supporting Actress (Tamil) category for her performance in Dhaam Dhoom (2008), in which she played a lawyer caught in a drug-smuggling case.
Raai Laxmi Controversies
Raai Laxmi stayed away from controversies and public attention. However, she has become a part of controversy regarding her movies and media.
- Lekha Washington Interview Controversy (2008): Actress Lekha Washington made remarks about Raai Laxmi, specifically concerning her professional relationship with director Jeeva during the filming of Dhaam Dhoom.
- Legal Battle with Tamil Weekly (2013): Raai Laxmi filed a legal case against a popular Tamil weekly magazine after it published an article she claimed was false and damaging to her reputation.
- Julie 2 Bold Scenes (2017): When Raai Laxmi took on the title role in the Bollywood film Julie 2, her bold on-screen portrayal sparked public debate.
Raai Laxmi Net Worth
Raai Laxmi’s net worth is approximately ₹48 crore ($5 million). She charges approximately ₹50 lakh-₹1 crore per movie.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | ₹48 crore ($5 million) |
| Salary (Approx.) | ₹50 lakh- ₹1 crore per movie |
Raai Laxmi Height, Weight and Physical Stats
The following are Raai’s physical appearances:
| Height | In centimetres: 171 cm In meters: 1.71 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 60 kg In lbs: 132 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 34-28-34 |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Raai Laxmi Instagram, X
 @iamraailaxmi | |
| X |  @iamlakshmirai |
Interesting Facts about Raai Laxmi
- Raai’s real name is Lakshmi Rai, but she changed her professional name to Raai Laxmi in 2014 on the advice of a numerologist.
- She won the title of Ms Belgaum, which helped launch her modelling and acting career.
- She made her acting debut at just 16 years old in the Tamil film Karka Kasadara (2005).
- Raai is fluent in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
- She has a passionate love for animals and has three pet dogs named Lui, Miu, and Paco.
- She is often referred to as the Selfie Queen of South Indian cinema by fans and media.
- Raai is known for her high fitness levels and maintains a rigorous workout routine.
FAQs
Who is Raai Laxmi?
Raai Laxmi, born Lakshmi Rai, is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. She is known for roles in films such asKanchana, Mankatha, Dhaam Dhoom, and Julie 2.
How old is Raai Laxmi?
Raai Laxmi was born on 5 May 1989 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. She is 37 years old.
What was Raai Laxmi’s first film?
Raai Laxmi made her acting debut in the 2005 Tamil film Karka Kasadara, directed by R. M. Premkumar, opposite Vikranth.
Which film gave Raai Laxmi wider recognition?
Raai Laxmi’s breakthrough performance came in the 2008 Tamil action thriller Dhaam Dhoom opposite Jayam Ravi, earning her a Filmfare Award nomination. She gained further widespread recognition for her negative role in Mankatha (2011) alongside Ajith Kumar.
Why is Lakshmi Rai called Raai Laxmi?
Raai Laxmi’s real name is Lakshmi Rai. She changed her professional name to Raai Laxmi in 2014 based on numerological advice.
Is Raai Laxmi married?
Raai Laxmi is currently single.
What are Raai Laxmi’s notable awards?
Raai Laxmi has won the Filmfare Award for Mankatha (2011), the Asianet Film Award for Evidam Swargamanu (2009), and the SIIMA Award for her stylish choices.
