Details

Born and raised in the UAE, Raaj Rao is a well known and multi award winning Actor and Filmmaker, With over 200 projects spanning (Hollywood/Bollywood/Short) Films, TV, theatre and social media projects in the UAE. Some of his notable work include his parallel lead role in an upcoming hindi feature The Buk, feature role as a negative character in Nagarjuna’s The Ghost on Netflix, feature role with Hrithik Roshan & Mahesh Babu in the internationally aired Mountain Dew Ad, feature role with Shah Rukh Khan in the Dubai Tourism Ad and featured role in R. Madhavan’s upcoming Amriki Pandit.

Although he has a background in Engineering and working in the oil rigs overseas, his calling was always clear to him. Dreaming of being an actor since the age of 8, he pursued that path, leading him to be trained by Bollywood Veteran Anupam Kher and his esteemed faculty at the prestigious Actor Prepares Institute, Mumbai.

Aside from acting, he ventured into directing films during the pandemic as he wanted to create and bring his own style to storytelling, particularly inspirational and thought-provoking ones. This led him to directing/conceptualizing many award-winning short films. His recent short film, Calling, as a Writer and Director won 14 major awards in 5 countries in its first month of festival run since April 2024. The awards included Best Director, 3 Best Short Film, 3 Best Actress, Best trailer, 3 Best edit and sound design etc. The film is currently in the nominations for 3 major categories including Best Director at the World Film Festival in Cannes.

He is also a well-known voice artist for multiple radio promo ads, popular Bollywood films, award shows and television. He has worked with brands like Ariel, HP, Brooke Bond Red Label, Coca Cola, Garnier, Huawei to name a few. He was also the voice of the mascot of Expo 2020 in the animation film.

Raaj is a trained dancer by the Mangalore Excellent Dance Academy and Shiamak Dawar in UAE, who has competed in many inter college competitions during his University days and continued his competitive streak by representing UAE in Dance India Dance Season 2 contest.

Having trained in different forms of martial artist, he’s also one of UAE’s renowned fight choreographers, acting coach and action director for feature and short films.

Speaking to thousands of Indian viewers, Raaj was a TV game show host for an online channel as well as the host for many high profile business and entertainment events in the UAE including the 3 week event of the Ramadan Street Food Festival.

Raaj produced a successful superhero short film “Magnificent Man”, in which he played the antogonist as well. The film garnered 19 international film festivals including critics choice and best film nominations. The movie had a red carpet screening on the launch weekend of Paramount Hotel Dubai and was officially screened at Comic Con Dubai in 2020.

Raaj is often invited on podcasts in the UAE to discuss various topics related to filmmaking, directing and acting.