Prakash Raj

Prakash Raj: A Pan-Indian Acting Powerhouse Prakash Raj, born Prakash Rai on March 26, 1965, is a prominent figure in Indian cinema, excelling as an actor, director, producer, and television presenter. His prolific career spans Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English films, earning him numerous accolades including five National Film Awards. His linguistic versatility—fluent in Tulu, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, English, and Marathi—has cemented his position as a leading actor across South Indian cinema and beyond. Initially working in Kannada theatre and television, Raj's cinematic debut was in the 1994 Tamil film Duet. His career trajectory includes memorable antagonist roles, transitioning later to impactful character acting. Significant awards include the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (1998) for Iruvar, a National Film Award - Special Mention (1998) for Antahpuram, and the National Film Award for Best Actor (2007) for Kanchivaram. His production company, Duet Movies, reflects his early success. Beyond acting, he also hosted the popular Tamil television show Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi. His recent work continues to showcase his range and versatility across diverse film projects. A National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada for Puttakkana Highway (2011) further underlines his multifaceted contributions to Indian cinema.