Prakash Raj is an Indian actor, film director, politician, producer, and television presenter, who received the National Film Award in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007, and 2010.Prakash was born to a Hindu father and a Roman Catholic mother. [18]The Indian Express.He faced many financial difficulties in childhood. His father was an alcoholic, and all the financial expenses were managed by his mother single-handedly.In school, he used to participate in various stage plays and developed an interest in acting. In an interview, while remembering his school days, he said, In school, I did plays for the applause. But once I came to theatre, I realised how theatre can be a movement. I didnt come to theatre to become an actor, I was in search of an identity. All I knew was that I was not comfortable with being an accountant, but I didnt know that I would reach here..He then participated in college stage plays. In an interview, while talking about the same, he said, In college, I was more interested in arranging strikes and forming gangs. Once, during second year of college, one of my professors said, You are wasting your time in college. Something hit me and I just walked out of the college for five kms and walked straight into Kalakshetra. For the next six months, I did not tell anyone at home that I was actually not going to college, but was doing theatre rehearsals. I started taking acting seriously..He has performed in more than 2000 street plays, and he has been associated with K Balachander school of acting. Initially, he used to get Rs 300 per month for stage plays. [19]News Daily India.After working in various theatre plays, he got an offer to work in a Kannada TV serial. Initially, he played small roles in TV serials, and he bagged the first lead role in 1995 in the Kannada TV serial Guddada Bhootha. A snippet of Prakash Raj from the TV serial Guddada Bhootha.He then appeared in a few Tamil TV serials like Chinna Chinna Aasaigal (1995) and Sahana (2003).He then ventured into Kannada films. In the beginning, he got cameo roles in films like Mithileya Seetheyaru (1998), Muthina Haara (1990), Anukoolakkobba Ganda (1990), Keralida Kesari (1991), and Mallige Hoove (1992).He has appeared in various Kannada films like Nagamandala (1997), Atithi (2002), Rajadhani (2011), Seizer (2018), and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2021). A still of Prakash Raj as Vijayendra Ingalag from K.G.F Chapter 2.