Rajkummar Rao has won our hearts with his phenomenal performance in movies like Newton, Love Sex Aur Dhokha, and Kai Po Che. He’s proved that hard work and perseverance can really pay off and even though you might not have a godfather in the industry, you can still work your way up to being a star.
We might know Rajkummar Rao’s characters on screen but there is a lot more to his personal life. On his birthday, we’ve got 12 facts about Rajkummar Rao that you probably did not know of.
1. His first movie was Rann with Amitabh Bachchan
Shocked right? We all thought his first movie was LSD. But before his first big break into the industry, the actor worked with Amitabh Bachchan in his movie, Rann. He played the role of a newsreader in the movie.
2. His real name is Rajkumar Yadav, with a single M
His mother changed his name from Rajkumar Yadav to Rajkummar Rao with a double M. She is a firm believer of numerology and sources say that his mother added the extra ‘M’ for success.
3. He was born in a small village in Gurgaon
Many think that Rajkummar Rao is from the South because of his last name Rao. But the actor was actually born in a tiny village in Gurgaon on 31 August 1984.
4. He is an alumnus at the Film & Television Institute in Pune
Yes, he studied film and television in Pune at the prestigious government recognised institute. He graduated in the year 2008.
5. Ekta Kapoor gave him his big break in LSD and Ragini MMS
When no one else saw the potential in him, Ekta clearly did and gave him a break with LSD and Ragini MMS. These movies turned out to be super hits and he got the critics approval as well.
6. He knows Taekwondo
Well, he doesn’t just do Taekwondo, he is actually a gold medal-winning practitioner. So, you better not mess with him.
7. He started his stage career as a dancer
If you think Rajkummar didn’t dance, you were clearly wrong because he started his career as a dancer. He talked about it in an interview saying, “I’m a decent dancer. It’s just nobody can imagine it because nobody has seen me dancing.”
8. He hired a publicist only in 2014
Almost three years after working in LSD and Ragini MMS, Rajkummar Rao finally got a publicist. He said in a statement that, “Everyone would say get one but I didn’t have enough money then.”
9. He cycled from Gurgaon to Delhi to perform in theatre shows
Quite a determined man, right? During his college days in Delhi University, Rajkummar also was an active part of the theatre group of Kshitij Repertory and Shri Ram Centre (SRC). So, before the public commute to and from Gurgaon was convenient, Rajkummar rode his cycle from Gurgaon to Delhi!
For me Acting is not a competition. It’s a very personal journey. My only competition is with the man in the mirror and to grow as an artist with every film. Pic Credit @Patralekhaa9. pic.twitter.com/BdgCJtsB8R
— Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) March 18, 2018
10. He worked in Talaash just to work with Aamir Khan
Rajkummar is a huge fan of Aamir Khan and his work. So, he made sure he didn’t miss out on this incredible moment to work with Aamir in Talaash.
11. He started acting since he was in 10th grade
Well, thank God he did ‘coz we would’ve missed out on such a great actor. He performed his first play in a theatre stage play during school. Thank you for acting bug!
12. He received a National Film Award
For his impeccable acting and performance in the movie Shahid, Rajkummar Rao received a National Film Award for best actor.
We wish him a very happy birthday and best for the future!
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