Rajiv Gulshan Rai (born 18 July 1955) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and film editor. The son of producer Gulshan Rai, he has directed many films under his father's production company, Trimurti Films, including Yudh (1985), Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), Gupt (1997), Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) and Asambhav (2004). He was married to actress Sonam from 1991 to 2016 and has a son with her.
Career
He made his debut as a director with the 1985 action film Yudh. He went on to write and direct several hit films in the action and thrillergenres: 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).[1] 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.[2][3]
Personal life
In 1991, he married Bollywood actress Sonam, whom he had directed in Tridev and Vishwatma. They have a son, Gaurav Rai (b. 1992). They divorced in 2016.[4]
In 1997, he had to leave India with his family for the UK after a failed attempt to kill him by hitmen believed to be working for the Mumbai underworld leader Abu Salem.[5]
