Prakash Raj Biography: Age, Height, Wife, Children, Family, Net Worth, Career, and More

Prakash Raj is a renowned Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, activist, and politician. He has made a significant impact in the South Indian film industry and Bollywood.

Prakash Raj is known for his versatility, having worked in multiple languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. His career spans over 3 decades, during which he has received numerous awards and accolades for his outstanding performances.

About Prakash Raj

Prakash Raj was born as Prakash Rai in Bangalore, India. He later changed his surname to “Raj” on the advice of renowned director K. Balachander. Prakash stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches, which is about 1.75 meters tall. He has brown eyes and black hair, which are common features among South Indians.

His appearance has changed over the years as he has aged, but he has maintained a fit and healthy look throughout his career. His height and build have helped him portray various roles convincingly, from intense villains to lovable characters. Prakash’s strong screen presence is partly due to his physical attributes, but mostly because of his exceptional acting skills.

Family Background

Prakash Raj comes from a humble background. His father, Manjunath Rai, struggled with alcoholism, which put a lot of pressure on the family. His mother, Swarnalatha Raj, worked as a nurse and was the main breadwinner. She single-handedly managed all the family’s expenses.

Prakash has a brother named Prasad Raj, who is also an actor. Prakash has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Lalitha Kumari in 1994. They had three children together: two daughters, Meghana and Pooja, and a son named Sidhu. Sadly, Sidhu passed away in 2004 at the young age of five after a fall while flying a kite. Prakash and Lalitha divorced in 2009.

In 2010, Prakash married choreographer Pony Verma. They have a son named Vedhanth, born in 2015. Prakash has maintained a strong bond with all his children and continues to be a loving father.

Education

Prakash Raj attended St. Joseph’s Indian High School in Bangalore for his early education. This school is known for its good academic standards and extracurricular activities.

It was during his school days that Prakash first discovered his love for acting. He took part in many school plays, which helped him develop his acting skills from a young age.

After finishing school, Prakash joined St. Joseph’s College of Commerce in Bangalore to study for a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree. However, he didn’t complete this degree. During his college years, Prakash became more interested in theatre and acting than in his studies. He often participated in college plays and even organized strikes and formed groups with like-minded students.

One day, a professor told Prakash that he was wasting his time in college. This comment hit him hard. Instead of going to class, Prakash walked straight to Kalakshetra, a well-known arts and cultural academy. For the next six months, he secretly attended theatre rehearsals instead of going to college.

Career Milestones

Prakash Raj’s career in the entertainment industry has been long and varied.

He started in 1986 with a small role in the Kannada film “Olavu Moodidaga”.

But his big break came in 1994 when he starred in the Tamil film “Duet”, directed by K. Balachander. This movie made him famous in Tamil cinema.

In 1997, Prakash won his first National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie “Iruvar”. This award is one of the highest honors for actors in India.

It showed that Prakash was not just popular, but also very talented.

Prakash didn’t stick to just acting. In 2002, he tried his hand at producing movies with “Dhaya”. Later, in 2010, he directed his first film, “Naanu Nanna Kanasu”.

These steps showed that Prakash was interested in all aspects of filmmaking.

His talent was recognized again in 2007 when he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for “Kanchivaram”. This award proved that Prakash could play lead roles just as well as supporting ones.

Prakash also tried his hand at television. In 2013, he hosted a popular game show called “Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi”. This show was like the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.

In 2019, Prakash entered politics. He ran as an independent candidate in the Indian general election. Although he didn’t win, this move showed that he was interested in serving the public beyond entertainment.

Notable Works

In “Iruvar” (1997), he played a character based on a real-life politician. This role won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. The movie was praised for its story and acting.

In “Anthapuram” (1998), Prakash played a complex character named Narasimha. His performance was so good that he won another National Film Award. This time, it was a Special Jury Award.

“Ghilli” (2004) was a big hit in Tamil cinema. Prakash played the villain, Muthupandi. Even though he was the bad guy, people loved his acting. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Villain for this role.

“Kanchivaram” (2008) is considered one of Prakash’s best works. He played a silk weaver named Vengadam. This role won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. The movie talked about the hard life of silk weavers in India. In “Singham” (2011), a popular Hindi action movie, Prakash played the main villain. This movie made him famous in Bollywood too. Many people who didn’t know him before saw his great acting in this film.

In “Jai Bhim” (2021), Prakash played a police officer fighting for justice. This movie was praised for talking about important social issues. It showed that even after so many years, Prakash can still do powerful roles.

Awards and Recognition

Prakash Raj has won many awards for his acting. The National Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards in India. Prakash has won this award three times! In 1997, he got it for Best Supporting Actor in “Iruvar”. The next year, he won a Special Jury Award for “Anthapuram”. In 2007, he won the Best Actor award for “Kanchivaram”. This shows how versatile he is as an actor.

The Filmfare Awards South are like the Oscars for South Indian movies. Prakash has won this award many times too. He got Best Supporting Actor twice and Best Villain twice.

In Tamil Nadu, where many of his movies are made, Prakash has won the State Film Award for Best Villain three times. This shows that he’s really good at playing the bad guy in movies.

The Nandi Awards are given by the government of Andhra Pradesh for Telugu movies. Prakash has won the Best Character Actor award three times.

All these awards show that Prakash Raj is respected not just by the audience, but also by film experts and critics. He’s known for giving powerful performances in all kinds of roles.

Financial Status

Prakash Raj has had a successful career in the film industry, which has helped him build a strong financial status. In the financial year 2018-2019, his income was reported to be Rs. 2,40,37,797.

His main source of income is acting in movies. Prakash acts in many films each year, in different languages. This helps him earn a good amount of money. He also produces films through his production company, Duet Movies. When these films do well, he earns even more.

Besides acting and producing, Prakash earns money from other sources too. He has appeared in TV commercials for brands like Netmeds and Hero Splendor.

He has also hosted TV shows like “Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi”, which is like the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”. All these jobs add to his income.

Prakash Raj’s net worth was reported to be Rs. 24,04,52,891.

Net Worth and Assets

Prakash Raj has built up a lot of wealth over his long career.

His assets are divided into two main types: movable and immovable.

Movable assets are things that can be moved, like cash, jewelry, and vehicles. Prakash has movable assets worth Rs. 5,18,63,352. This includes:

• Cash: Rs. 80,000
• Money in banks: Rs. 6,08,000
• Shares and bonds: Rs. 1,68,53,142
• Vehicles: Rs. 1,88,29,236
• Jewelry: Rs. 24,00,000

Immovable assets are things that can’t be moved, like land and buildings. Prakash’s immovable assets are worth Rs. 26,94,09,916. This includes:

• Agricultural land: Rs. 14,72,93,300
• Non-agricultural land: Rs. 5,00,00,000
• Commercial buildings: Rs. 35,00,000
• Houses: Rs. 6,86,16,616

Prakash owns several cars, including a Toyota Innova, BMW 520D, Audi Q3, and Mercedes Benz. He also has a Vespa scooter. These vehicles show that he likes a mix of practical and luxury cars.

Relationships

Prakash Raj’s personal life has seen both joy and sadness. He has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Lalitha Kumari in 1994. They were together for 15 years before getting divorced in 2009. During their marriage, they had three children: two daughters named Meghana and Pooja, and a son named Sidhu.

Sadly, their son Sidhu passed away in 2004. He was only five years old when he had an accident while flying a kite. This was a very difficult time for Prakash and his family.

After his divorce from Lalitha, Prakash found love again. He married choreographer Pony Verma on August 24, 2010. Pony is 12 years younger than Prakash. They have a son together named Vedhanth, who was born in 2015. Interestingly, Prakash and Pony had a second wedding ceremony in 2021. This was because their son Vedhanth wanted to see his parents get married. Prakash shared pictures of this ceremony on social media, showing how important family is to him.

Before marrying Pony, Prakash made sure that she spent time with his daughters from his first marriage. He wanted everyone in the family to get along well. This shows how much he cares about keeping his family happy and united, even after going through difficult times.

Hobbies and Interests

He loves to read, especially autobiographies and books about history. This hobby helps him understand different people and times, which might help him in his acting too.

One of Prakash’s surprising hobbies is gardening. He has an organic farm in Hyderabad where he grows vegetables and fruits without using any harmful chemicals. This shows that he cares about eating healthy and protecting the environment.

Prakash is also very interested in social issues. He often speaks up about things he thinks are important for society. This interest led him to start two organizations: the Prakash Raj Foundation and the Just Asking Foundation. These groups work to help people in need and make society better.

Politics is another area that interests Prakash. He doesn’t just talk about political issues; he has even tried to be a part of the political system. In 2019, he ran for election as an independent candidate. Even though he didn’t win, this shows how much he cares about being involved in his country’s future.

He can also speak many languages fluently, including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and English. This skill has helped him act in movies in different languages and connect with people.

These hobbies and interests show that Prakash Raj is not just an actor, but a person who cares about learning, nature, society, and connecting with people in many ways.

Social Causes

Prakash Raj is known not just for his acting, but also for his social work. He cares a lot about making life better for people who need help. In 2015, he adopted a village called Kondareddypalle in Telangana. This means he promised to help make life better for the people living there. He works on giving the village better facilities and improving education for the children.

Through his foundations, Prakash helps many different groups of people. He supports an organization called Hasiru Dala, which helps families of waste pickers. These are people who collect and sort trash, often living in very poor conditions. Prakash’s help makes their lives a little easier.

He also supports the Thamate Centre for Rural Empowerment. This group works to improve life in rural areas, especially for people who have been treated unfairly in society.

Prakash hasn’t forgotten about the film industry where he works. He helps daily wage workers in the film industry. These are people who don’t have steady jobs and often struggle to make ends meet.

In Tamil Nadu, Prakash supports fishermen families in a place called Kovalam. Fishing can be a difficult and uncertain job, so this help is important for these families.

Skills and Talents

Prakash Raj is a man of many talents.

His main skill is acting, and he’s really good at it. He can act in many different languages, which is not easy to do. He can play all kinds of roles – good guys, bad guys, funny characters, and serious ones too. This versatility has made him famous across different film industries in India.

But Prakash doesn’t just act in movies, he also makes them. He has directed several films, showing that he understands how to tell stories through cinema. He’s also a film producer, which means he helps get movies made by providing money and making important decisions.

One of Prakash’s most impressive skills is his ability with languages.

He can speak seven languages fluently! This includes Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, English, and Tulu. This skill has helped him work in movies across different parts of India.

Prakash is also known for being a good public speaker. He’s not afraid to speak his mind on important issues. This skill has made him popular not just as an actor, but also as a social activist.

In addition to all this, Prakash has tried his hand at writing dialogues for films. This shows he understands not just how to say lines, but how to create them too. He’s also been a host for TV shows, proving he can entertain people even when he’s not acting in a movie.

Controversies

Prakash Raj, like many public figures, has faced his share of controversies. In 2008, he was banned by the Telugu film industry several times. They said he behaved unprofessionally during film shootings. This was a big deal because it was the first time an actor was banned by the Telugu industry.

In 2011, a dialogue in the Hindi film “Singham” caused problems.

In the movie, Prakash’s character threatened to bring people from the Karnataka border to beat up the hero. This made many people from Karnataka angry. They felt it was insulting to their state. Prakash had to explain that he didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.

In 2013, Prakash did a nude scene in a Telugu film called “Ongole Gitta”. Some people criticized him for this. Prakash said he only did it because the story needed it, not to create a sensation.

In 2017, after his friend Gauri Lankesh was murdered, Prakash criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the PM was silent about people who were celebrating Gauri’s death on social media. This led to a case being filed against Prakash for making negative remarks about the PM.

In 2019, Prakash compared Ram Leela (a traditional play about the Hindu god Ram) to child porn. Many people were very upset by this comparison. Prakash faced a lot of criticism for these comments.

Recently, in 2023, Prakash made a post about India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission. Some people thought his post was making fun of the mission. This led to complaints being filed against him.

Public Image

Prakash Raj has a complex public image that goes beyond just being an actor.

In the film world, he’s highly respected for his acting skills. People admire how he can play many different types of roles in various languages. He’s known for giving powerful performances that leave a lasting impact on viewers. Outside of films, Prakash is known as someone who speaks his mind. He often talks about important social and political issues. This has made him popular among people who like celebrities who stand up for what they believe in. However, it has also led to some controversies.

One thing that makes Prakash stand out is his ability to work in many different language film industries. He’s acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films. This has helped him gain fans all across India.

Prakash is also known for his social work. He has adopted a village and works to improve life there. He supports many social causes through his foundations. This has earned him respect as someone who uses his fame to help others. In recent years, Prakash has shown interest in politics. He even ran for election once. While he didn’t win, this has made some people see him as a potential political leader.

However, Prakash’s outspoken nature has sometimes got him into trouble. He’s often in the news for making controversial statements. This has made him a polarizing figure – some people really like him for speaking out, while others criticize him for it.

Legacy

Prakash Raj has left a lasting mark on Indian cinema and society. His legacy is multi-faceted, touching various aspects of the entertainment industry and beyond.

In acting, Prakash has set a high bar. He’s shown that an actor can excel in many types of roles across different language films. This has inspired many young actors to be versatile and not limit themselves to one type of character or one language industry.

Prakash’s ability to work in multiple language films has helped bridge gaps between different film industries in India. He’s shown that talent can cross language barriers, paving the way for more collaboration between different regional cinemas.

His social activism has set an example for other celebrities. Prakash has shown that fame can be used to highlight important social issues and make a difference in people’s lives. His work in adopting a village and supporting various causes has inspired other stars to get involved in social work.

Through his production company, Prakash has supported meaningful cinema. He’s produced films that tell important stories, not just ones that make money. This has helped create space for more diverse and thoughtful films in the industry.

Prakash’s multiple National Awards have set high standards in the film industry. They show that it’s possible to balance commercial success with critical acclaim, encouraging other actors to strive for excellence.

His engagement with politics, even though he didn’t win an election, has encouraged more celebrities to be politically aware and active. This has helped bring more attention to political issues among the general public.

Social Media Handles

Prakash Raj is active on several social media platforms. You can follow him on these accounts to stay updated with his latest activities, thoughts, and projects.

On Twitter, his handle is @prakashraaj. He often uses this platform to share his views on current events, promote his films, and interact with his fans. His Instagram handle is @joinprakashraj. Here, you can find pictures and videos from his personal and professional life. He shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of his film shoots, family moments, and his social work activities.

On Facebook, you can find him at @prakashrajofficial. This is his official Facebook page where he posts updates about his work, shares his thoughts, and connects with his fans.

Final Words about Prakash Raj

Prakash Raj has made a significant impact on Indian cinema and society.

His journey from a theatre actor to a nationally recognized film star is inspiring. Prakash’s ability to excel in multiple languages has made him a pan-Indian figure, bridging cultural gaps through cinema.

His versatility as an actor, director, and producer has enriched the Indian film industry.

Prakash’s numerous awards, including multiple National Film Awards, stand testament to his talent and hard work. Beyond entertainment, he has used his fame to raise awareness about social issues and contribute to community development.

While controversies have sometimes surrounded him, they have not overshadowed his contributions to cinema and society. Prakash Raj’s legacy is that of a multifaceted artist who has consistently pushed boundaries in his professional life while remaining committed to social causes.

As he continues his journey in films and public life, Prakash Raj remains a influential figure in Indian cinema and a voice for social change. His story is a testament to the power of talent, hard work, and social consciousness in shaping a meaningful career and leaving a lasting impact on society.