Gajraj Rao: Biography, Age, Height, Family, Career & Net Worth

x is a celebrated Indian actor, ad filmmaker, and storyteller. Known for his breakthrough performance in Badhaai Ho (2018), Rao spent over two decades juggling odd jobs, theatre, and advertising before emerging as a respected name in Bollywood and OTT. From struggles in the railway colony of Delhi to winning a Filmfare Award, his journey embodies persistence, talent, and versatility.

Biography

Family & Relationships

• Marital Status: Married

• Wife/Spouse: Sanjana Rao

• Children: Two sons (elder son studies graphic design)

• Religion: Hinduism

Despite early hardships, Gajraj Rao often emphasizes the importance of giving his family the best life, something he could only dream of during his struggling years.

Early Life & Struggles

• Born in a lower-middle-class family in Rajasthan, raised in Delhi’s railway colony, where his father worked with Indian Railways.

• Exposure to diverse dialects and cultures in the colony shaped his acting instincts.

• At 16, he joined the Act One Theatre Group with Manoj Bajpayee and Ashish Vidyarthi.

• He was mesmerized by theatre after watching Sandhya Chhaya at Delhi’s Shri Ram Centre.

• Struggled with odd jobs: worked in a tailor shop, a garment company, and as a freelance writer for Navbharat and Hindustan Times.

• Later, I wrote scripts for Doordarshan anchors before moving into ad films.

Career Journey

Entry into Films

• Debut: Bandit Queen (1994) as Ashok Chand Thakur (offered by Shekhar Kapur).

• Played small but impactful roles in Dil Se (1998), Aks (2001), Black Friday (2007), and Talvar (2015).

Breakthrough with Badhaai Ho (2018)

• Role: Jeetendra Kaushik, father of Ayushmann Khurrana.

• Won Filmfare Best Supporting Actor.

• Overnight fame after 20+ years of struggle.

Advertising Career

• Co-founded Code Red Films (2003) with Subrat Ray.

• Directed ad campaigns for Maruti Suzuki, Samsung, Cadbury, McDonald’s, Reliance, Flipkart, and P&G.

• Won awards at Adfest Asia, Promax Singapore, The Cup, and NYF.

• Directed short films & social ads, including a National Anthem respect campaign.

Filmography Highlights

• Bandit Queen (1994)

• Dil Se.. (1998)

• Black Friday (2007)

• Talvar (2015)

• Badhaai Ho (2018)

• Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020)

• Lootcase (2020)

• Thai Massage (2022)

• Maidaan (2024)

• Jolly LLB 3 (2025)

Web Series

• Bang Baaja Baaraat (2015)

• F.A.T.H.E.R.S. (2017)

• Masaba Masaba (2020)

• PariWar (2020)

• Ray (2021)

• Dabba Cartel (2025)

• Dupahiya (2025)

Awards & Achievements

• 2018: Screen Award – Best Actor (Critics) – Badhaai Ho

• 2019: Filmfare Award – Best Supporting Actor – Badhaai Ho

• 2020: Filmfare Nomination – Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

• Multiple advertising awards for Code Red Films

Net Worth (2025)

Estimated ₹40–45 Crores ($5–6 Million USD), earned through:

• Acting (films & OTT)

• Ad filmmaking & production house Code Red Films

• Endorsements & guest appearances

Favourite Things

• Food: Chole Bhature

• Actor: Shah Rukh Khan

• Actress: Deepika Padukone

• Cricketers: Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh

Some Lesser-Known Facts

• Rao once considered quitting acting after facing repeated rejections in Delhi.

• He used to walk from Town to Andheri, surviving on tea during struggles.

• Writes, directs, and produces ads, documentaries, and short films.

• Known as the new father figure of Bollywood and OTT.

Latest Updates (2025)

• Will be seen in Jolly LLB 3 (2025) as Haribhai Khaitan.

• Plays a cop in Netflix’s Dabba Cartel (2025).

• Stars in Amazon Prime’s Dupahiya (2025) as Banwari Jha.

• Recently praised in interviews for upholding strong values about money and dignity after years of hardship.

Conclusion

From a railway colony boy in Delhi to a Filmfare-winning actor and ad filmmaker, Gajraj Rao’s story is one of resilience and talent. His balance of commercial films, OTT shows, and advertising work makes him a unique creative force in India. Today, he stands as an inspiration for anyone struggling to find recognition in their field.