Rajkummar Rao is an Indian actor best known for his roles in Hindi movies. He was born Raj Kumar Yadav on August 31, 1984. Since 2010, he has appeared in more than 30 motion pictures. In addition to three Filmfare Awards and an Asia Pacific Screen Award, Rao has won the National Film Award.
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Rao studied acting at the Film and Television Institute of India after receiving his degree from the University of Delhi, and he later relocated to Mumbai to further his film career. He made his acting debut in the anthology Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), but his supporting performances in Gangs of Wasseypur: Part 2 and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within helped him find mainstream success (both 2012).
He made a breakthrough with his critically lauded performances in Kai Po Che! and Shahid (both 2013); the latter earned him the National Film Award.
Queen (2014), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), the biopic Aligarh (2016), the anthology Ludo (2020) and the sports drama Chhalaang (2020), the thriller Trapped (2016), the black comedy Newton (2017), and his debut English movie The White Tiger followed, all of which brought Rao more praise (2021). Stree (2018), a horror comedy, is his highest-grossing movie to date.
Here is our pick for the best of his 30 movies:
1 Newton
The first in this Rajkummar Rao Movie list is Newton. Newton Kumar, a new government employee, is assigned to work an election duty in the Naxal-controlled, war-torn jungles of Chhattisgarh. Newton Kumar makes an effort to run a fair election in the area despite the obstacles in his way and the threat of impending communist rebel guerilla strikes.
Available on Amazon Prime.
2 Shahid
The next on this Rajkummar Rao Movie list is Shahid. Shahid tells the tale of the assassinated lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi. Set in Mumbai during the racial unrest that broke out there in 1993. We see a fantastic story develop. Shahid traces the inspiring personal journey of a boy while observing the rise of communal violence in India, from attempting to become a terrorist to being wrongfully imprisoned under the anti-terrorism law to becoming a lawyer and a champion of human rights (particularly the Muslim minorities in India). An amazing example of the human spirit is the tale of a poor Muslim who overcame his circumstances by fighting to accept injustice and inequity.
Available on Netflix.
3 Trapped
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Trapped. Shaurya locks himself in his recently rented apartment, which is in a bleak Mumbai high-rise, and is forced to take drastic measures in order to survive. Shaurya triumphs in his struggle over his hunger, thirst, terror, and inner demons despite having little access to supplies and little communication with the outside world.
Available on Amazon Prime.
4 Stree
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Stree. Stree is set in a town where everyone is familiar with the tales of a strange woman who calls men by their names and kidnaps them while leaving their garments behind. It is based on an urban legend in Chanderi. There are no known facts, and those who have been kidnapped rarely come out to share their experiences, but the terror is evident. Everyone takes great care to have the word O Stree, Kal Aana (O Woman, Come Tomorrow) engraved on their walls, and they all make an effort to stay indoors during the night.
Available on Amazon Prime.
5 Bareilly Ki Barfi
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Bareilly Ki Barfi. This romantic comedy, which is set in the little village of Barielly, examines the subtleties of the straightforward life individuals there lead. The protagonist is a free-spirited young woman named Bitti Mishra who is fed up with society expectations and finds comfort in the novel "Barielly Ki Barfi."
Available on Amazon Prime.
6 Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana. A passionate love story set against our nation's civil service. After meeting for the purpose of an intended arranged marriage, Sattu (Rajkumar Rao) and Arti (Kriti Kharbanda) fall in love. Everything is going smoothly up until the wedding night. All three are left at the alter: the eloped bride, the broken-hearted groom, and the bewildered family.
The events that follow are a rollercoaster of emotions, family values, and aspirations.
Available on Amazon Prime.
7 Kai Po Che
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Kai Po Che. The writers and directors of Rock On and Rang de Basanti produced the Hindi movie, Kai Po Che.
Kai Po Che (means triumphant yell in Gujarati) is a memorable hymn to friendship and the amazing moments one has with one's closest friends. It is based on Chetan Bhagat's best-selling novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life.
Available on Netflix.
8 Citylights
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Citylights. The British film Metro Manila, which was nominated for a BAFTA, was remade as CityLights. An impoverished Rajasthani farmer named Deepak Singh is the subject of the movie. He relocates to Mumbai in search of a better future for his wife and young child. He quickly becomes aware of the difficulties of city life, though.
Available on Netflix.
9 Aligarh
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Aligarh. The actual account of professor Siras, a poet and teacher, served as the inspiration for Aligarh. He was only a few months away from retirement when the incident occurred, and he was fired from his employment due to his sexual orientation.
Available on Amazon Prime.
10 Queen
The next on this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Queen. When her fiancé leaves her just days before the wedding, Rani is devastated. Unfazed, she embarks on a solo honeymoon where she is forced to step outside of her comfort zone and rediscover herself.
Available on Amazon Prime.
11 Badhaai Do
The next on this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Badhaai Do. When Suman Singh's girlfriend stays with them, the marriage of convenience between Shardul Thakur and her breaks down.
Available on Amazon Prime.
12 Hit: The First Case
The next on Rajkummar Rao movies list is Hit: The First Case. A 32-year-old police officer of Rajasthan's Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) who is currently struggling with his own horrific history is Vikram Jaisingh. When Preethi, an 18-year-old girl, unexpectedly vanishes on the Jaipur ring road, Vikram realizes that the case has a personal link, mayhem breaks out, and he is forced to intervene and find the girl.
Available on Amazon Prime.
13 Roohi
The next on this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Roohi. The horror-comedy Roohi is about two small-town guys named Bhaura and Kattanni, played by Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma, who meet a girl named Roohi, played by Janhvi Kapoor, in a fictional village in North India.
Another horror comedy has sprung from the Stree universe. That's the bar mard I want to have!
Available on Amazon Prime.
14 Hum Do Humare Do
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Hum Do Humare Do. Social media celebrity Anya and self-made guy Dhruv decide to get married after falling in love. The only issue is that he is an orphan and needs to put together a false family as soon as possible.
Available on Netflix.
15 Chhalaang
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Chhalaang. The journey of a PT Master from a semi-government-funded school in Northern India is the subject of the humorous yet uplifting book Chhalaang. Montu is a typical PT Master who sees it as nothing more than a job. When Neelu, whom Montu loves, and everything else he values are threatened, Montu is compelled to do something he has never done: educate.
Chhalaang pokes fun at the importance of sports education in the school curriculum through Montu's voyage.
Available on Amazon Prime.
16 Made In China
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Made In China. Rajkummar Rao plays a middle-aged Gujarati businessman who is discouraged by his failures and travels to China in search of new opportunities. There, he sets out on an odd and humorous quest and discovers something far better—an additional chance to get it right.
Available on Amazon Prime.
17 The White Tiger
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is The White Tiger. Balram Halwai begins working as a driver for a wealthy couple who have just returned from the US, but he has higher aspirations and is prepared to employ ingenuity to make them a reality.
Available on Netflix.
18 Behen Hogi Teri
The next on this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Behen Hogi Teri. A middle-class kid from Lucknow, Gattu is 23 years old and has been in love with Binny, 20, since they were little. However, his family members think that every lady in the mohalla is like one's sister, therefore Binny has also been given the title of Gattu's sister ever since they were young. But Gattu doesn't accept this definition of "behen-bhai ka pyaar." He is aware that 'girlfriend wala pyar' is appropriate for his age and would persuade both firebrand Binny and their families that Binny is in fact his lifelong partner despite the fact that Binny is well known for tying rakhi to every boy in the mohalla.
Available on Amazon Prime.
19 Ludo
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Ludo. Anthology movie Ludo explores the intersecting narratives of four characters living in metropolitan settings.
Available on Netflix.
20 Fanney Khan
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Fanney Khan. A narrative of a family man from the middle class who formerly harboured musical aspirations. He never achieved his dream more because of a lack of opportunities than because of talent. He sends his teenage daughter to singing competitions, where the uncomfortable and obese girl tries to belt out a tune, making one wonder if she indeed has the talent to be a star singer. The father is placing all of his hopes in his daughter.
He meets India's biggest pop sensation, Baby Singh, by chance while looking for a job. When he decides to kidnap her on the heat of the moment, the plot takes a comedic turn. Will everything go off schedule?
Available on Amazon Prime.
21 Omerta
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Omerta. Based on the biography of convicted terrorist Omar Sheikh, whose crimes include planning the murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 and the kidnapping of European tourists in India in 1994.
Available on Amazon Prime.
22 Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. There are some complicated love stories, and Sweety's is one of them. She must deal with her overbearing family's desire to marry her off, a young author who is absolutely enamoured with her, a secret she holds dear to her heart, and ultimately the possibility that her genuine love may not be accepted by her family and society. Solving these problems turns out to be amusing, emotional, and transformative. Welcome to the year's most surprising romance!
Available on Amazon Prime.
23 Judgemental Hai Kya
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Judgemental Hai Kya. A dark comedy centred on two people whose lives alternate between reality and illusion. The movie, which was directed by Prakash Kovelamudi, features Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut in the key roles.
Available on Amazon Prime.
24 Shimla Mirchi
The next on this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Shimla Mirchi. Avinash falls in love with Naina, who is staying with her mother, while on a family vacation to Shimla. When Naina shows her mother Avinash's love letter, however, things become complicated.
Available on Netflix.
25 5 Weddings
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is 5 Weddings. When an American journalist goes to India to cover Bollywood weddings, she discovers a patchwork of racial tensions, transgender complications, and unrequited loves. Her travels come to a close in a place where the only journey worth taking is the one inside of oneself.
Available on Netflix.
26 Love Sonia
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Love Sonia. Two sisters from a small Indian hamlet who are trafficked are the subject of the intricate and motivational tale Love Sonia. Sonia, the primary character, is kept alive by a flimsy but worthwhile desire. No young child should have to go through her harrowing odyssey, which spans three countries and a lifetime of experiences.
Available on Netflix.
27 Dolly Ki Doli
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Dolly Ki Doli. Dolly, a con artist, defrauds wealthy men into marriage her, robs people on the wedding night, and then flees.
Available on Netflix.
28 Ragini MMS
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Ragini MMS. It is a seductive supernatural movie that appears to be in real time!
Ragini and Uday, the ideal pair, decided to spend a wild weekend at a friend's farm outside of Mumbai. The weekend trip abruptly shifts course as they arrive at a home that has been outfitted with cameras in the Bigg Boss fashion.
The cameras that were intended to record couples in love are actually capturing something more ethereal and transcendental.
Ragini and Uday are now under the control of an enigmatic paranormal force inside this house. What will the new residents of the house do as dusk falls?
Available on browser.
29 Chittagong
The next in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Chittagong. The film is based on a little-known true story of a group of young people who dared to challenge the British Empire in 1930s British-occupied India (now Bangladesh). Their leader was Masterda Surya Sen (Manoj Bajpai). The protagonist of "Chittagong" is Jhunku, a shy 14-year-old kid (Delzad Hiwale). The reluctant kid struggles with his own self-doubts as he becomes enmeshed in this quest that seems to have no chance of success.
Available on the browser.
30 Love Sex Aur Dhokha
The last in this Rajkummar Rao movie list is Love Sex Aur Dhokha. Reality TV shows and voyeuristic smartphone videos rule our society. The advent of new media satisfies this long-suppressed desire for "discovering without being discovered." Indian kids have witnessed everything, including sting operations, sex scandals, and seemingly innocent home videos of lovers making out. but without necessarily having to pay for it.
Available on Netflix.
Happy binging.
