Prakash Raj

Prakash Raj, born as Prakash Rai on March 26, 1965, in Bangalore, Karnataka, is one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated character actors, known for his commanding screen presence across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. A polyglot performer equally adept at playing menacing villains and nuanced character roles, he has appeared in over 400 films.

After working in stage shows and Kannada television for several years, Prakash Raj made his Tamil debut in K. Balachander’s “Duet” (1994) — it was Balachander who gave him the screen name “Prakash Raj.” He quickly became one of the most sought-after antagonists in South Indian cinema, delivering iconic villain performances in “Ghilli” (2004) as the terrifying Muthu Pandi, “Singam” (2010), and “Singham” (2011).

His dramatic range extends far beyond villainy. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mani Ratnam’s “Iruvar” (1997), a National Film Award Special Mention for the Telugu film “Antahpuram” (1998), and the National Film Award for Best Actor for “Kanchivaram” (2007). In total, he has won five National Film Awards, eight Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, eight Nandi Awards, and six Filmfare Awards South.

Prakash Raj is also an active voice in social and political discourse, known for speaking candidly on issues affecting Indian society. He married choreographer Pony Verma in 2010, after his separation from actress Lalitha Kumari.