Charan Raj is a veteran Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his villainous and character roles across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, and Hindi cinema. Born on 1958-04-27 in Belagavi, Karnataka, he has been active in the film industry since 1982 and remains a versatile performer with a career spanning over four decades.
He made his debut with the Kannada film Parajitha (1982), directed by Siddalingaiah, which was a commercial success. Charan Raj later became popular in Telugu cinema with films like Pratighatana (1985), Indrudu Chandrudu (1989), and Karthavyam (1990). Beyond acting, he has also worked as a producer, director, and music composer, making him one of the most multifaceted personalities in South Indian cinema. Married to Kalpana Charanraj, he has three children, including actor Tej Charanraj.