Rajkummar Rao — one of Hindi cinema’s most respected actors — has built a career that few in Bollywood can match: a National Film Award winner, a five-time Filmfare winner, and the star of India’s biggest horror-comedy franchise, all without ever playing the conventional leading-man game. From a middle-class home in Gurgaon to Shahid, Newton, and the record-breaking Stree 2, his journey is proof that pure acting talent can still conquer the box office. In 2026 he has been in the headlines again — a new film release, a Netflix project he produced himself, and life as a brand-new father. His rise from Love Sex Aur Dhokha to the Stree universe mirrors the reinvention of his Stree co-star Shraddha Kapoor, who also turned a horror-comedy into the biggest hit of her career.
Here is the complete biography: his age, family, career, net worth, and what’s next in 2026.
Rajkummar Rao Quick Facts
| Full Name | Rajkummar Rao (born Raj Kumar Yadav) |
| Known As | Rajkummar Rao, Rajkumar Yadav |
| Born | 31 August 1984, Prem Nagar, Gurgaon, Haryana |
| Age | 42 years (as of November 2026) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer |
| Years Active | 2010 – Present |
| Father | Satya Prakash Yadav (Haryana revenue department; died 2019) |
| Mother | Kamlesh Yadav (homemaker; died 2016) |
| Siblings | Elder brother Amit, elder sister Monika |
| Wife | Patralekhaa (married 15 November 2021) |
| Children | Daughter Parvati Paul Rao (born 15 November 2025) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm approx.) |
| Education | Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University; Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune |
| Home | Juhu, Mumbai |
| Estimated Net Worth | Unverified media estimates range widely (see below) |
Early Life and Education
Born Raj Kumar Yadav on 31 August 1984 in Prem Nagar, Gurgaon (now Gurugram), Haryana, Rajkummar Rao grew up in a middle-class joint family as the youngest of three children, with an elder brother, Amit, and an elder sister, Monika. His father, Satya Prakash Yadav, worked in the Haryana revenue department, and his mother, Kamlesh Yadav, was a homemaker. Both his parents have passed away — his mother in 2016 and his father in 2019.
He studied at S.N. Sidheshwar Senior Secondary Public School in Gurgaon, where he first took part in school plays, and later graduated from Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College at the University of Delhi, doing theatre on the side with the Kshitij Theatre Group and at Delhi’s Shri Ram Centre. Rao has often said he decided to become an actor after watching Manoj Bajpayee perform — a performance that left him “highly influenced”. In 2008, he graduated from the acting course at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and moved to Mumbai to chase a film career.
Career: From Struggling Outsider to National Award Winner
Debut and Early Struggle (2010–2012)
After a year of visiting studios and meeting casting directors, Rao made his film debut in Dibakar Banerjee’s found-footage anthology Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), playing Adarsh, a supermarket supervisor — a role for which he lost 6 kg in a month. The film won critical acclaim and turned a profit. He followed it with the horror hit Ragini MMS (2011), the crime thriller Shaitan (2011), and supporting roles in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 and Reema Kagti’s Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (both 2012).
Breakthrough: Shahid and Kai Po Che! (2013)
2013 changed everything. In Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che!, Rao stood out alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Amit Sadh, earning his first Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Then came Hansal Mehta’s Shahid, in which he played the late lawyer Shahid Azmi — a performance he prepared for by meeting Azmi’s family, studying the Quran, and attending court proceedings. The role won him the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, announcing him as one of the finest actors of his generation.
Critical Acclaim: Queen, Aligarh, Trapped, Newton (2014–2017)
The years that followed were a masterclass in range. He played the manipulative fiancé in Kangana Ranaut’s Queen (2014), starred opposite his future wife Patralekhaa in the moving drama CityLights (2014) — living for a month in a small Rajasthani town to master the dialect — and played a journalist in Aligarh (2015). In Vikramaditya Motwane’s survival drama Trapped (2016), he carried the entire film alone, surviving on a carrot-and-coffee diet to stay in shape for the role, and won his second Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
Then came Newton (2017), in which he played an upright government clerk sent on election duty to a Naxal-affected town. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, won unanimous critical praise, earned him the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor, and was chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. In the same year, his comic turn in Bareilly Ki Barfi — co-starring Kriti Sanon and Ayushmann Khurrana — won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also made his digital debut as Subhash Chandra Bose in the web series Bose: Dead/Alive, gaining 13 kg and going half-bald for the role.
Commercial Stardom: Stree and Beyond (2018–Present)
His commercial breakthrough arrived with Amar Kaushik’s horror-comedy Stree (2018), co-starring Shraddha Kapoor, which became a major box-office success and earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination. He continued to mix acclaim with commerce: Ludo (2020), the Netflix thriller Monica, O My Darling (2022), and Badhaai Do (2022), in which his portrayal of a closeted gay man won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
In 2024, he played visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla in Srikanth, and then came the biggest hit of his career: Stree 2 (2024), the sequel that became his highest-grossing release ever. He followed it with the fantasy comedy Bhool Chuk Maaf (2025). Across more than thirty films, he has collected a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards, and an Asia Pacific Screen Award — and in 2017 he was featured on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list. His full filmography and awards are documented on Wikipedia.
Family
Rao married actor Patralekhaa on 15 November 2021 in Chandigarh, after an eleven-year relationship that began when they met on the sets of CityLights. The couple announced their pregnancy in July 2025 and welcomed their first child — a daughter, Parvati Paul Rao — on 15 November 2025, their fourth wedding anniversary.
The family lives in Mumbai, in a luxurious triplex in Juhu that the couple bought in 2022 from actor Janhvi Kapoor for a reported ₹44 crore. Despite his stardom, Rao is known for keeping his personal life low-key, and he has often spoken about how the loss of both his parents shaped his outlook on family and work.
Rajkummar Rao Net Worth (2026)
Rao’s net worth has never been officially disclosed, and published estimates vary enormously — from roughly $8 million to $18 million (around ₹65–150 crore) depending on the source, with some Indian outlets putting the figure near ₹81 crore. These are unverified media estimates, not audited figures, so treat every number you see online with caution.
What is certain: his wealth comes from film fees that have risen sharply since Stree 2, streaming deals, brand endorsements, and prime real estate including the Juhu triplex. He has also moved into production, which adds a new income stream to his career.
What’s Next: Prahaar and Toaster (2026)
Rao’s latest film, Prahaar, released on 16 October 2026, keeping him firmly in the headlines through the autumn. Also in 2026 comes Toaster, the Netflix comedy that marks his debut as a producer — his first home production, co-starring Sanya Malhotra and produced together with his wife Patralekhaa. The project signals a new chapter for Rao: not just one of Bollywood’s most dependable actors, but a filmmaker shaping his own stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rajkummar Rao’s age in 2026?
He was born on 31 August 1984 — 42 years old as of November 2026.
What is Rajkummar Rao’s real name?
Raj Kumar Yadav — he changed the spelling of his first name to Rajkummar on numerological advice early in his career.
Who is Rajkummar Rao’s wife?
Actor Patralekhaa — married since 15 November 2021.
Does Rajkummar Rao have children?
Yes — a daughter, Parvati Paul Rao, born on 15 November 2025.
What is Rajkummar Rao’s net worth?
No official figure exists. Unverified media estimates range from about $8 million to $18 million.
What is Rajkummar Rao’s biggest hit?
Stree 2 (2024) — his highest-grossing release ever.
What awards has Rajkummar Rao won?
A National Film Award for Best Actor (Shahid), five Filmfare Awards, and an Asia Pacific Screen Award (Newton).
What is Rajkummar Rao’s next movie?
Toaster on Netflix (2026), his first film as a producer, co-starring Sanya Malhotra.
Final Thoughts
From a Gurgaon schoolboy who fell in love with acting watching Manoj Bajpayee, to a National Award winner and the face of one of India’s biggest film franchises, Rajkummar Rao’s career is a rare story of talent winning over connections. With a new daughter, a production banner of his own, and Toaster on the way, the most interesting phase of his journey may be just beginning.
Also read: Kriti Sanon: Age, Biography, Family, Career, Net Worth & More (2026) and Vicky Kaushal: Age, Biography, Family, Career, Net Worth & More (2026)
