Rajesh Jais – Supporting actor from Bollywood

Rajesh Jais is a Bollywood actor known for supporting roles. In a career spanning to three decades, he did numerous significant and less significant character roles, and can be said to be an underrated actor. His roles in recent web series are equally popular, and he has been featured in numerous TV ads as well. His role as SBI Manager in popular web series ‘Scam 92 and as Shraddha Kapoor’s father in Tu Jhoothi Mein Makkar were well appreciated.

Rajesh Jais – A journalist turned actor

Rajesh hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand and was born in 1969. His ancestors originally belong to Kandahar, from where his family migrated to India after Partition. He lost his father in his early childhood, who worked in Airforce. He grew up with tribal kids in Jharkhand catching crabs and snails, playing with snakes and eating roasted fish in crop fields. His schooling and graduation were completed from his hometown, and later he enrolled at NSD in 1988, where he completed post-graduation with 1988-1991 batch.

He was a journalist by profession before pursing acting. He also was associated with theatre those days, and his experience helped him to get film and television roles. His beginning in acting journey was pure coincidence. He was waiting for the air force jeep that would take him from college to Ranchi Airport for regular Gliding Training, when he came across a street play group. He got attracted to it, and that was the beginning.

He was a part of India’s first TV soap, Shanti aired on Doordarshan in the mid-1990s. He played the character Nanu in the series, in 1994. Since then he appeared in more than 30 TV serials, and has also done more than 40 ad films belonging to different brands.

Rajesh Jais’ prominent character roles

His performance was noted in TV series like Shanti, Sorry Meri Lorry, Zanjeeren, Jai Jai Tridev, Trikaal, Is Pyaar ko kya Naam du, Malini Iyer, Kagaar, Chacha Choudhary, Crime Patrol, Great Experiments, Shanno ki Shaadi, Dishaayen, Kya Mast Hai Life, Sapno ke Bhanwar Me, Shastri Sisters etc. Jehanabad – Of Love & War, ‘Scam 92, Pataallok, Panchayat, Tanaav and Rudrakal are some of his popular web series.

He made brief appearances in movies like Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, Tashan, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Marjaavaan, Kalank, Raman Raghav 2.0, Judgementall Hai Kya, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Joggers’ Park, Chhorii, Roohi, Indoo Ki Jawani, Raazi, Why Cheat India, Johnny Gaddaar, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Missing, Ajab Singh Ki Gajab Kahani, Airlift, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year etc.

Though he has worked in small screen and big screen for more than 30 years and people recognize his face, he is still waiting for a single major role where his artistic talents will be truly recognized. In his opinion, his best role is yet to come.

Rajesh Jais – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He was NCC Airforce senior Cadet and President’s Scout in college. He wanted to join air force like his father.

2. He cracked UGC Net and aimed at becoming a theatre professor at Delhi University. He later cleared Territorial Army’s Lieutenant’s written exam and interview.

3. When he reached Mumbai with his acting dreams, he lived with four people in a 2BHK flat. Vijay Krishna Acharya – the screenwriter of Dhoom series was one among those. Others were Saurabh Shukla, Anil Chaudhary and Jitendra Shashti.

4. During his struggling days while staying in Mumbai with his friends, some of the regular visitors in his rented flat were Tigmanshu Dhulia, Irrfan Khan, Sanjay Mishra, Manoj Bajpayee, Atul Shrivastava and Vineet Kumar, who also joined industry almost in the mid-1990s, just like him.

5. He was a part of series ‘Manch Masala’ of Siddharth Basu, and more than 30 TV serials.

6. He has performed as Narrator and Sangtarash in 1st Indian Broadway styled worldwide touring mega Musical ‘Mughal E Azam‘.

7. He had to leave a good role in ‘Lagaan’, as he was committed for a TV show. Ashutosh Gowarikar’s team asked him for 90 days at a stretch, but he was not in a stage to leave the show in the middle. Maachis is yet another role, which he lost opportunity.