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Amit Rai Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1977

Age46 (as of 2023)

BirthplaceGoldinganj, Chapra, Bihar, India

ProfessionDirector, Writer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilyHas a son; father Babulal Rai; one younger brother

Amit Rai Biography

Amit Babulal Rai is an Indian director and writer from Chapra, Bihar, known for his socially engaged films. He rose to wider prominence with the 2023 film,

Early life and background

Amit Babulal Rai was born in 1977 in Goldinganj, Chapra, Bihar, and grew up in a household that later moved to Ulhasnagar in Thane, Maharashtra. As a child he helped his father in the family’s video-parlour business and spent long hours watching films, an experience that sparked his early interest in filmmaking. Although his father initially wanted him to pursue a more conventional profession, Rai completed college studies in science before transitioning into the arts.

Rai attended KSP Jai Hind Academy in Ulhasnagar and went on to study at R. K. Talreja College of Arts, Science and Commerce, also in Ulhasnagar. He later trained at the Centre for Performing Arts (Lalit Kala Kendra) at Savitribai Phule Pune University. His formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a master’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in dramatics.

He also took the National School of Drama entrance exam early on but did not move to Delhi at that time, and narrowly missed selection at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, falling short by one mark. Before entering the film industry, Rai spent fourteen years working in theatre as an actor, director and set designer.

Career

Rai began his professional film career assisting established directors, including Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap, and worked on films such as the Marathi feature Tingya (2008). His debut feature as director, Road to Sangam (2010), starred Paresh Rawal, Pavan Malhotra and Om Puri, and included Tushar Gandhi in its cast. The idea for the film dated back to 2006 and drew on a historical anecdote about a mechanic connected to the transport of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes.

Road to Sangam was well received on the festival circuit, collecting more than ten international awards, among them Best Feature Film at Radar Hamburg Fest and Best Narrative Feature at White Sands Fest in New Mexico. Rai’s short film Ipad (2017) examined low-cost sanitary pad production inspired by real-life social innovation, and his 2020 short In Pursuit of Light followed a man bringing cataract treatment to Adivasi communities—work that also earned recognition at international festivals.

Rai wrote the story for and directed the high-profile 2023 feature OMG 2, which starred Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam and Aarush Varma. The film addressed sex education and drew attention for its frank yet non-explicit treatment of a sensitive subject. Following its release, Rai publicly criticized the Central Board of Film Certification’s initial adult-only rating and asked the board to reconsider that decision.

Across his career he has received multiple honors, including the Director’s First Film Award at the International Film Festival of South Africa (2009), the Director’s Vision Award at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart, the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award in 2010, Best Director at the Jagran Film Festival, and the 69th Filmfare Award for Best Story for OMG 2 in January 2024.

Public profile

Rai is identified with straightforward storytelling that engages with social themes. His background in theatre and years assisting noted filmmakers informed a style that blends narrative clarity with social purpose. He has been active on social platforms and maintains a public presence under his name on Twitter and Instagram.

Personal life

Amit Rai is married and has one son. His father is named Babulal Rai, and he has a younger brother. Rai follows Hinduism and lists Chapra as his hometown. He is approximately 175 cm tall, with black hair and black eyes.

Latest updates

In 2023 Rai reached a broader audience with OMG 2, and his work on that film earned industry recognition into early 2024. He is also credited as the creative force behind Dear Jassi, which was slated for release in the same year as OMG 2.
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Recent Work

OMG 2

Story writer and director of the 2023 feature that addresses sex education and stars Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam and Aarush Varma.

2023
Dear Jassi

Credited as the creative mind behind this project, expected for release in 2023.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Directorial debut Road to Sangam (2010)
  2. Writer and director of OMG 2 (2023)
  3. Winner of multiple international festival awards for Road to Sangam
  4. Recipient of the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award (2010)
  5. 69th Filmfare Award for Best Story for OMG 2 (2024)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Amit Rai born?

1977

What is Amit Rai known for?

Director, Writer

What is Amit Rai’s marital status?

Married