Rajiv Rai

• Name — Rajiv Rai • Born — 18 July 1955 • Years Active — 1975–2004 2022–present • Occupation — Film director • Children — 1 • Father — Gulshan Rai

Rai started his career as an assistant for his father Gulshan Rai's distribution and productions. He eventually made his debut as a director with the 1985 hit action film Yudh. He went on to write and direct several super-hit films in the action and thriller genres: Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), and Gupt (1997). His films are also notable for their hit music composed by Kalyanji-Anandji (in Tridev) and Viju Shah in all his subsequent films. After a four-year hiatus from the Bollywood industry, he returned to directing by introducing Arjun Rampal with his comeback venture Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001). This was an attempt by Rai at directing a romantic drama, a change from his previous action films. The film failed at the box office and Rai returned to the action genre with his next film Asambhav (2004), again starring Arjun Rampal, which also failed to do well. Shortly after the release of Asambhav, his father died at the age of 80 of a prolonged illness. Following a sabbatical of two decades, Rai announced his return to direction in 2022 with a production titled Zora.

In 1991, he married Bollywood actress Sonam, whom he had directed in Tridev and Vishwatma. They have a son, Gaurav Rai (born 1992). They divorced in 2016. In 1997, he had to leave India with his family for UK after escaping an assassination attempt by a hitmen believed to be working for the Mumbai underworld leader Abu Salem.

• Year — Film — Notes • 1985 — Yudh — Screenplay, Director • 1989 — Tridev — Writer, Screenplay, Director • 1992 — Vishwatma — Screenplay, Director • 1994 — Mohra — Screenplay, Director Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Director • 1997 — Gupt — Editor, Screenplay, Director Winner - Filmfare Award for Best Editing Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Director • 2001 — Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat — Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director • 2004 — Asambhav — Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director • 2025 — Zora — Story, Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director • 2026 — Zora Zorawar (2026) — Story, Editor, Screenplay, Producer, Director