Rai (Hindi: राय; Urdu: رائے‎; Bengali: রায়, Tulu: ರಾೀ, Nepali: राई)https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/soas_query.py?qs=rāˊjan&searchhws=yes is a historical surname in the Indian subcontinent. The Haryanvi variant is Rao. In Bihar title Rai is used by Bhumihar community.

People

* Jitendra Kumar Rai (born 1978), Cabinet Minister Bihar * A. N. Rai (born 1955), Indian academic administrator *

Aanand L. Rai Aanand L. Rai (born 28 June 1971) is a Hindi film director and producer known for romantic-comedy movies ''Tanu Weds Manu'' (2011), ''Raanjhanaa'' (2013), ''Tanu Weds Manu: Returns'' (2015), '' Zero (2018 film), Zero ''(2018), '' Atrangi Re '' ...

(born 1971), Indian film director and producer *

Aaron Rai Aaron Rai (born 3 March 1995) is an English professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has won twice on the European Tour; the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open and the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open. He i ...

(born 1995), English golfer *

Ade Rai Ade Rai (born I Gusti Agung Kusuma Yudha Rai; 6 May 1970) is an Indonesian professional natural bodybuilder and he also competed in amateur body building championships like SEA Games and Asian Games The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, ...

(born 1970), Indonesian bodybuilder * Agansing Rai (1920–2000), Nepali recipient of the Victoria Cross *

Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil films. The winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant, she has established herself as one of the most popular celebritie ...

(born 1973), Indian actress and former Miss World * Ajay Rai, Indian politician *

Ajeet Rai Ajeet Shankar Rai (born 18 January 1999) is a New Zealand professional tennis player. Rai has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 424, achieved on 3 April 2023, and a best doubles ranking of 304, reached on 3 April 2023. Tennis career 2018 R ...

(born 1999), New Zealand tennis player *

Alisha Rai Alisha Rai is a Nepalese film actress, model and dancer. She rose to fame from her dance performance in the Nepalese movie ''Loot 2'' (2017). Before then, Alisha had also acted in the leading role of a Kiranti language movie entitled ''Binayo''. ...

(born 1996), Nepali actress, model and dancer * Alisha Rai (author), American writer *

Alka Rai Alka Rai is an Indian politician associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Alka Rai contested the Uttar Pradesh assembly election held in 2017. She got elected from the Mohammadabad Assembly constituency, Mohammadabad constituency by de ...

, Indian politician *

Amit Rai Amit Rai is an Indian film director and writer. He won the Gollapudi Srinivas Award in 2010 for directing ''Road to Sangam''. His 2009 Marathi film ''Tingya'', won him the best director award at the International Film Festival of South Africa, 200 ...

, Indian film director *

Amrit Rai Amrit Rai (3 September 1921 – 14 August 1996) was an Indian writer, poet and biographer in both the Hindi and Urdu styles of the Hindostani language. He was the son of Munshi Premchand, a pioneer of modern Urdu literature and of Hindi lite ...

(–1996), Indian writer * Anand Rai (born 1977), Indian activist *

Asish Rai Asish Rai (born 27 January 1999) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG. Club career Early life and youth career Rai was born in Pakyong, a small village in Sikkim. He a ...

(born 1999), Indian footballer *

Atul Rai Atul Rai is an Indian politician and a Member of Parliament from the Ghosi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. He defeated Bharatiya Janata Party's Hari narayan Rajbhar. He contested Lok Sabha Election with Bahujan Samaj Party's ticket and defea ...

(born 1982), Indian politician *

Babbal Rai Babbal Rai is an Indian Punjabi singer, songwriter and film actor. Music career Babbal Rai made his debut with the album "sau putt the first chapter" which brought him into the limelight in the music industry. His album, which was brought ...

(born 1985), Indian Punjab singer * Baleshwar Rai, Indian politician, former Indian Administrative Service officer *

Bali Rai Bali Rai (born 30 November 1971) is an English author of children's and young adult fiction. Early life Rai was born in Leicester in 1971, to Punjabi parents. At the age of eleven, he read ''The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole'' by Sue Townsend, ...

(born 1971), English young-adult fiction novelist *

Béchara Boutros Raï Bechara Boutros al-Rahi (or Raï; syr, ܡܪܢ ܡܪܝ ܒܫܐܪܐ ܦܛܪܘܣ ܐܠܪܐܥܝ; ar, بشارة بطرس الراعي, Mor Bishārah Buṭrus al-Rāʿī; la, Béchara Petrus Raï) (born on 25 February 1940) is the 77th Maronite Patr ...

(born 1940), Maronite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch *

Bina Rai Bina Rai (13 July 1931 – 6 December 2009), sometimes referred to as Beena Rai, was an Indian actress, primarily of the black and white era of Hindi cinema. She is most known for her roles in classics such as ''Anarkali'' (1953), '' Ghunghat' ...

(1931–2009), Indian actress * Brij Mangal Rai (1914–1998), Indian freedom fighter and politician *

Daroga Prasad Rai Daroga Prasad Rai (2 September 1922 - 15 April 1981) was an Indian politician from the state of Bihar. He was the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1970 for ten months, but Congress was reduced to a minority in December 1970 and Karpoori Thakur became ...

(1922–1981), Indian politician *

Dayahang Rai Dayahang Rai ( ne, दयाहाङ् राई) is a Nepali actor, director, and playwright. Dayahang is known for his uniqueness in Nepali cinema. He is one of the most popular and acclaimed actors of Nepal. He has starred in over 40 films ...

(born 1979), Nepali actor *

Dipak Rai Dipak Rai ( ne, दीपक राई) (sometimes spelled Deepak) is a Nepali professional footballer who currently plays for Manang Marshyangdi Club as a forward. Club career Machhindra In the 2012 Pokhara cup in a match against Calcutta Pos ...

, Nepali footballer * Gauri Shankar Rai (1924–1991), Indian politician *

Gulshan Rai Gulshan Madhosh Rai (2 March 1924 – 11 October 2004) was an Indian film producer and distributor. He produced successful films in the 1970s and 1980s directed by Vijay Anand, Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai and thereafter directed by his son Raji ...

(1924–2004), Indian film producer and distributor *

Guru Har Rai Guru Har Rai (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ, pronunciation: ; 16 January 1630 – 6 October 1661) revered as the ''seventh Nanak'', was the seventh of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion.Haqiqat Rai Haqiqat Rai Bakhmal Puri (died 1734; pa, हक़ीक़त राय बाख्मल पुरी , ਹਕ਼ੀਕ਼ਤ ਰਾਯ ਬਾਖਮਲ ਪੂਰੀ , ) was an 18th-century martyr from Sialkot, who was executed in Lahore dur ...

, Sikh martyr *

Himanshu Rai Himanshu Rai (1892 – 16 May 1940), one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, is best known as the founder of the studio in 1934, along with Devika Rani. He was associated with a number of movies, including ''Goddess'' (1922), ''The Light of Asia ...

(1892–1940), Indian film pioneer *

I Gusti Ngurah Rai Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai (30 January 1917 – 20 November 1946) was an Indonesian National Hero who commanded Indonesian forces in Bali against the Dutch during the Indonesian War of Independence. He was killed in the Battle of Margarana.Muti ...

, National Hero of Indonesia * Indra Bahadur Rai (1927–2018), Indian writer *

Jharkhande Rai Jharkhande Rai was an Indian Communist politician. He belonged to Bhumihar community and was an eminent leader and one of the pillars of the Communist Party of India in Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh. He was elected to the 4th Lok Sabha, 5th Lok Sab ...

(died 1984), Indian politician *

Kalpana Rai Kalpana Rai (9 May 1950 – 6 February 2008) was an Indian actress from Andhra Pradesh who predominantly appeared in Telugu films. She acted in more than 430 films. She was born in Kakinada. Personal life Kalpana Rai was born in Kakinada. Sh ...

(1950–2008), Indian actress *

Kalpnath Rai Kalpnath Rai (4 January 1941 – 6 August 1999) was an Indian politician. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha between 1974–80, 1980–86, and 1986–92, as well as being elected on four occasions to the Lok Sabha from the ...

(1941–1999), Indian politician *

Kayyar Kinhanna Rai Kayyara Kinhanna Rai (8 June 1915 – 9 August 2015) was an Indian independence activist, author, poet, journalist, teacher and farmer. Early life Rai was born on 8 June 1915 to Duggappa and Deyyakka Rai in a Tulu-speaking Bunt family. Hi ...

(1915–2015), Indian writer in Kannada and activist *

Krishnanand Rai Krishnanand Rai (11 December 1956 – 29 November 2005) was an Indian politician from Uttar Pradesh. He served as a MLA from 2002 to 2005 representing Mohammadabad Assembly located at Ghazipur district. His first stint at politics was in yea ...

(1956–2005), Indian politician * Kuber Nath Rai (1933–1996), Indian writer *

Kusum Rai Kusum Rai (born 14 August 1968) is an Indian politician. She is a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. She is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is a senior woman leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and ...

(born 1968), Indian politician *

Lakshmi Rai Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Alo ...

(born 1989), Indian actress *

Lala Lajpat Rai Lala Lajpat Rai (28 January 1865 - 17 November 1928) was an Indian author, freedom fighter, and politician. He played a vital role in the Indian Independence movement. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was one of the three members of ...

(1865–1928), Indian author, freedom fighter and politician *

Lalit Rai Colonel Lalit Rai, VrC is a former Indian Army officer who was decorated for his brave actions during the Kargil War in 1999. As the commanding officer (CO) of the 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles, he was tasked with capturing the strategic he ...

(born 1956), Indian Army officer *

Mangla Rai Mahamalla Mangla Rai (October 1916 – June 1976) also known as "Rustam-e-Hind and Hind Kesari Mangla Rai" ( Hindi, रुस्तम-ए-हिंद मंगला राय) is the ring-name of Mangla Rai. Early life Legendary wrestler Ru ...

(1916–1976), Indian professional wrestler *

Manikala Rai Manikala Rai (born 27 November 1988) is a Nepalese ultra runner who now lives in France. Rai is said to be "Nepal's first international female ultra runner." She won the women's race in the North Face 100k in Hong Kong in December 2013, with a ti ...

(born 1988), Nepali ultra runner *

Melina Rai Melina Rai ( ne, मेलिना राई) is a Nepalese singer. She received the Best Playback Singer Female award at the Radio Kantipur Awards 2017. Early life and career Trained by her father in the art of music since the age of ten, Ra ...

, Nepali singer *

Mira Rai Mira Rai (born 31 December 1988) is a Nepalese trail runner and sky runner Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running up to or exceeding where the minimum average incline is 6% over the total distance and at least 5% has an incline of 30% or m ...

(born 1988), Nepali trail and sky runner *

Mona Rai Manoranjan Rai, or more commonly known as Mona Rai was the final chief minister of medieval Sylhet's Gour Kingdom. He is most known for being named after the highest hill in Sylhet city. Office His office began in 1260 with ascension of Raja Gou ...

(), Chief Minister of Gour Kingdom *

Mridu Rai Mridu Rai is an Indian people, Indian historian who serves as the Professor at Presidency University, Kolkata. Rai is the author of the prizewinning book ''Hindu Rulers'', ''Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights'', and the ''History of Kashmir'' (2004 ...

, Indian historian *

Mukrand Rai Mukrand Rai was appointed as governor of Bareilly district, Bareilly region, modern Uttar Pradesh in India, in 1657 by Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Mukrand Rai fortified and built the town of Bareilly. The foundation of the 'modern' Ci ...

(), Mughal governor * Muthappa Rai (died 2020), Indian businessman, philanthropist and social activist *

Nandini Rai Neelam Gouhrani, known professionally as Nandini Rai, is an Indian actress and model who works in Telugu films. She is the winner of the Miss Andhra Pradesh title of 2010. After modelling, she went to pursue a career in acting. Biography Nandi ...

, Indian actress *

Nityanand Rai Nityanand Rai (born Nityanand Rai Yadav on 1 January 1966) is an Indian politician and the current Minister of State for Home Affairs in the Government of India. He was elected in the 2014 and 2019 General Election from Ujiarpur as a candidate ...

(born 1966), Indian politician *

Pamela Rai Pamela Leila Rai (born March 29, 1966, in New Westminster, BC, Canada) is a former freestyle and butterfly swimmer who represented Canada from 1980 to 1987. Rai competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California where she won an Ol ...

(born 1966), Canadian swimmer *

Prakash Rai Prakash Raj (born Prakash Rai; 26 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, and politician. Known for his works in Tamil language, Tamil, Telugu language, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam-language films ...

(born 1965), Indian actor, director, producer and politician * Pramila Rai (born 1963), Nepali politician *

Raghu Rai Raghu Rai (born 1942), is an Indian photographer and photojournalist. He was a protégé of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who appointed Rai, then a young photojournalist, to Magnum Photos in 1977. Rai became a photographer in 1965, and a year later ...

(born 1942), Indian photojournalist *

Rajiv Rai Rajiv Gulshan Rai (born 18 July 1955) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and film editor. He is the son of the producer Gulshan Rai. He has directed many films under his father's production company ''Trimurti Films''. He made his debut ...

(born 1955), Indian film director and screenwriter *

Baba Ram Rai Baba Ram Rai (Gurmukhi: ਰਾਮ ਰਾਏ; ''rāma rā'ē''; 1645–1687) was the eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai, and the founder of the Ramraiyas, an unorthodox sect in Sikhism. He founded the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib, a ...

(1645–1687), Sikh founder of Ramraiya *

Rai Hau-min Rai Hau-min (; born 2 January 1939) in Tō'oku Village, Shinchiku Prefecture, Japanese Taiwan, was the President of the Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China from 2010 to 2016. An attorney by profession, Rai founded the Formosa Transnational At ...

, President of the Judicial Yuan *

Ram Bahadur Rai Ram Bahadur Rai is a senior Hindi journalist. He is Former news editor of Hindi daily '' Jansatta''. He has published and authored and edited several of books. He is known for some impressive biographies, written in Hindi, namely ''Shashwat Vidr ...

(born 1946), Indian journalist * Ramanna Rai (1930–2008), Indian politician *

Ramanath Rai Bellipady Ramanath Rai (born 13 September 1952) is an Indian politician who was a Minister in Government of Karnataka from 23 May 2013 to 15 May 2018. Biography Rai was born 13 September 1952 to Bellipady Perne Narayan Rai and Girija Rai in ...

(born 1952), Indian politician *

Ramdeo Rai Ramdeo Rai (5 January 1943 – 29 August 2020) was an Indian politician. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Bachhwara in 2015. Rai was the most senior politician in the Bihar Congress Party and he served six times as a Memb ...

(1943–2020), Indian politician * Ramveer Rai (born 1987), Emirati cricketer *

Randeep Rai Randeep Rai (born 8 June 1993) is an Indian actor. He started his acting career in 2014 by portraying Kabir Scindia in Channel V's '' O Gujariya: Badlein Chal Duniya.'' Rai is best known for his portrayal as Sameer Maheshwari in Sony Entertainme ...

(born 1993), Indian actor *

Sabin Rai Sabin Rai ( ne, सबिन राई) is a Nepali singer and lyricist who is called as the Bryan Adams of Nepal because of the voice. His first successful single was "Komal Tyo Timro" from the album ''Sataha''. Although his song "Ekai Aakash ...

, Nepali singer *

Sara Rai Sara Rai (Sārā Rāy, born 15 September 1956), is a contemporary Indian writer, editor of anthologies and translator of modern Hindi and Urdu fiction. She lives in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) and New Delhi, India. Rai mainly writes and publishes ...

(born 1956), Indian writer * Sarita Rai, Indian politician * Shivpujan Rai (1913–1942), Indian independence activist and politician *

Suyyash Rai Suyyash Rai (born 24 March 1989) is an Indian television actor and singer. His first TV appearance was on Chandigarh auditions of Roadies 5.0. He is known for his role of Abhay on ''Rishta Likhenge Hum Naya'' on Sony TV. He was a contestant in ...

(born 1989), Indian actor and singer *

Tarundeep Rai Tarundeep Rai (born 22 February 1984, in Namchi, Sikkim, India) is an Indian archer. He is conferred with the Padma Shri, in 2021, by the Government of India, for his contribution in Sports. Earlier, in 2018, he was awarded the Khel Ratan Aw ...

(born 1984), Indian archer * Upendra Rai (born 1982), Indian journalist *

Vinay Rai Vinay Rai (born 18 September 1979) is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Tamil films. He is best known for his performance in the films ''Unnale Unnale'' (2007), ''Jayamkondaan'' (2008), ''Endrendrum Punnagai'' (2013) and ''Aranmanai'' (2 ...

(born 1979), Indian actor * Vinit Rai (born 1997), Indian footballer *

Vinod Rai Vinod Rai (born 23 May 1948) is a former IAS officer who served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He assumed office on 7 January 2008 till 22 May 2013. He is the current chairman of UN Panel of External Auditors and Honorary ...

(born 1948), former Comptroller and Auditor General of India *

Viveki Rai Viveki Rai (19 November 1924 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian writer who penned over fifty books. He was a famous literary figure of Hindi and Bhojpuri literature. He belonged to Bhumihar Brahmin community of Sonwani village in Ghazipur. He ...

(1924–2016), Indian Hindi-language writer

References

{{Reflist Surnames Indian surnames Japanese-language surnames

People

See also

References