Prakash Raj is a famous actor and producer from Karnataka in South India and  has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi films. His original name Prakash Rai, in Kannada screen was rechristened to Prakash Raj by K. Balachander, for Prakash Raj’s, debut movie in Tamil Duet.  Prakash Raj’s mother tongue is Kannada.He began his acting career with Kannada serials, like Bisilu Kudure and Guddada Bhootha. He later took up small supporting roles in Kannada films, like Raamachari, etc. Prakash Raj’s breakthrough role came in form of Harakeya Kuri starring Vishnuvardhan and Geetha.
His performance in the movie was noticed by Geetha and she in turn introduced Prakash Raj to her mentor, the noted director K. Balachander. He re-entered Kannada films with a bang through Nagamandala in 1997, directed by the award winning director T.S Nagabharana and continues to act in a number of Kannada movies every year.
He is a very famous actor in South India for a wide variety of roles that he has performed, most notably as a villain and of late, as a character artiste, in Tamil and Telugu; he is considered to be one of the most natural actors in the film industry, and has a good reputation for his acting skills. Prakash Raj was also a part of Mani Ratnam’s stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai.
Prakash Raj has also won several awards including two national awards:
One for the Best supporting actor in Iruvar and also a special jury award for his exemplary performance in Dhaya - his first directorial venture.
Recently Prakash Raj took on the mantle of producer and has produced 3 movies in Tamil (Kollywood). Out of the three movies he produced two are box-office hits and also are critically acclaimed. Prakash Raj’s movies are generally acclaimed by the audience as good quality movies and are also considered as family entertainers.
Also as a producer Prakash Raj’s selection of movies typically have natural storylines. He is now producing a movie named Poi,lie in English, which is directed by his mentor and veteran director K. Balachander, who is incidentally directing his 101st film. |
