Rajkummar Rao has built a career around character-driven Hindi cinema, moving between independent dramas, commercial comedies, thrillers, and large franchise films without losing critical credibility.
In 2026, his profile also includes fatherhood, new releases, and a growing producer role, giving his career a broader dimension beyond acting alone.
Rajkummar Rao Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rajkummar Rao |
| Birth Name | Raj Kumar Yadav |
| Date of Birth | August 31, 1984 |
| Age (2026) | 42 |
| Birthplace | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| Profession | Actor and producer |
| Known For | Shahid, Newton, Stree, Stree 2 |
| Spouse | Patralekhaa |
| Child | Parvati Paul Rao |
| Education | Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College; Film and Television Institute of India |
Rajkummar Rao Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Rajkummar Rao has an estimated net worth of $18 million.
His fortune draws from acting fees across Hindi film and OTT platforms, brand endorsements, and long-term royalties from his critically acclaimed body of work.
Unlike many of his contemporaries who rely heavily on one revenue stream,
Rao has diversified across commercial entertainers, prestige cinema, and streaming originals —
a strategy that has kept his earnings consistently high even when individual projects underperformed at the box office.
Early Life and Acting Training
Rao grew up in Gurugram and studied at Delhi University before completing formal acting training at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.
That training supported a performance style built around physical transformation, regional detail, and careful character observation rather than dependence on conventional star-image roles.
Breakthrough With Shahid and Newton
Rao’s early film work included Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Kai Po Che!, and Queen, but Shahid became his defining critical breakthrough.
His portrayal of lawyer and human-rights activist Shahid Azmi earned the National Film Award for Best Actor and established Rao among India’s strongest contemporary performers.
Later, Newton strengthened that reputation through a politically observant performance in a film selected as India’s submission for the Academy Awards.
Those projects demonstrated Rao’s ability to anchor serious material while remaining accessible, a combination that later helped him transition into larger commercial productions.
Stree and Commercial Growth
The horror-comedy Stree gave Rao a major mainstream franchise while preserving the grounded comic timing and vulnerability that distinguish his screen performances.
Its sequel, Stree 2, became an even larger commercial event in 2024 and reinforced Rao’s value within one of Hindi cinema’s successful horror-comedy universes.
Rao followed that period with Bhool Chuk Maaf and Maalik in 2025, continuing to alternate romance, comedy, crime, and action.
For broader Indian-cinema wealth context, our Akshay Kumar profile examines another actor whose career combines longevity, commercial films, and business activity.
Current Work in 2026
Rao remained active in 2026 with Toaster and Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, expanding his filmography into comedy and biography.
Bollywood Hungama’s current filmography lists both 2026 releases and the developing Sourav Ganguly biographical project scheduled for 2027.
That range matters because Rao’s career is no longer defined by one genre, director, or audience segment, reducing dependence on a single commercial formula.
Marriage and Fatherhood
Rao married actor Patralekhaa in November 2021 after a long relationship, and the couple welcomed their first child four years later.
Their daughter, Parvati Paul Rao, was born on November 15, 2025, the same date as the couple’s fourth wedding anniversary.
The Indian Express reported the child’s name publicly in January 2026 after the couple shared a family announcement online.
Fatherhood has become part of Rao’s public biography, although he and Patralekhaa continue keeping their daughter largely outside routine entertainment coverage.
Production and Financial Context
Rao has increasingly participated in projects beyond acting, including producer credits, giving him another professional role within the development and packaging of films.
However, private contracts, endorsement terms, backend participation, taxes, investments, and property ownership are not disclosed comprehensively enough for precise annual-income calculations.
Public box-office grosses also represent producer and distributor revenue, not personal actor income, so they should never be treated as Rao’s retained earnings.
The strongest financial picture therefore comes from documented professional activity, long-term film demand, producing work, and brand visibility rather than speculative salary tables.
FAQs
How old is Rajkummar Rao in 2026?
Rajkummar Rao turned 42 on August 31, 2026, after being born in Gurugram, Haryana, on August 31, 1984.
Who is Rajkummar Rao married to?
Rao is married to actor Patralekhaa. They married in November 2021 after a long relationship and welcomed their daughter in November 2025.
What is Rajkummar Rao known for?
He is known for performances in Shahid, Newton, Stree, Badhaai Do, Srikanth, and Stree 2, spanning independent and commercial cinema.
What did Rajkummar Rao release in 2026?
His 2026 credits include Toaster and Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, while additional projects remain in development.
