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Rakesh Kumar (Director) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 2 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth18 October 1941

Age81 (at time of death)

ProfessionFilmmaker, producer, actor, writer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseUsha Rakesh (Sharma)

FamilySon - Lakshay Kumar; Daughter - Neha Sharma

Rakesh Kumar (Director) Biography

Rakesh Kumar was an Indian filmmaker who worked as a director, producer, writer and actor. He began his film career as an assistant director on Zanjeer, in

Early life and background

Rakesh Kumar was born on 18 October 1941. He was Indian by nationality and spent his professional life in the Hindi film industry. Physically, he was approximately 177 cm tall (about 5'10"). His eye colour was recorded as black and his hair described as salt-and-pepper.

Career

Kumar entered the film world in a supporting crew role, beginning work in 1973 as an assistant director to Prakash Mehra on the film Zanjeer. Four years later he stepped into feature directing with his debut, Khoon Pasina (1977). Over the following decades he established himself as a filmmaker who also took on producing and writing duties, and he is credited with directing several well-known Hindi films including Mr. Natwarlal, Yaarana and Do Aur Do Paanch.

As a producer, his credits include titles such as Dil Tujhko Diya, Commander, Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara and Suryavanshi. His producing work brought him into collaboration with prominent actors of the time, and one of the films he produced featured actor Salman Khan.

In addition to his behind-the-camera roles, Kumar appeared on screen in a number of Bollywood films as an actor. His film career spanned from his 1977 directorial debut through to a last credited film in 1992, listed as Sooryavanshoi.

Public profile

Kumar worked closely with leading figures of his era. After his death, tributes from colleagues highlighted both his contributions to popular cinema and the camaraderie he maintained on sets and at events. He was remembered for the films he directed and for the relationships he forged with peers in the industry.

Personal life

Rakesh Kumar was married to Usha Rakesh (Sharma). The couple had two children: a son named Lakshay Kumar and a daughter, Neha Sharma. His zodiac sign was Libra.

Death

Rakesh Kumar died on 10 November 2022 in Mumbai, India, at the age of 81. Reports state that he had been suffering from cancer prior to his passing.

Latest updates

News coverage following his death included public remembrances from contemporaries and acknowledgment of his work on classic Hindi films. His passing marked the loss of a filmmaker whose career bridged roles as assistant director, independent director, producer and performer.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Rakesh Kumar (Director), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Sooryavanshoi

Listed as his last film credit (1992).

1992
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Career Highlights

  1. Began as assistant director to Prakash Mehra on Zanjeer (1973)
  2. Directorial debut with Khoon Pasina (1977)
  3. Directed Mr. Natwarlal, Yaarana and Do Aur Do Paanch
  4. Produced films including Dil Tujhko Diya, Commander, Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara and Suryavanshi
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Rakesh Kumar (Director) born?

Rakesh Kumar (Director) was born on 18 October 1941.

What is Rakesh Kumar (Director) known for?

Rakesh Kumar (Director) is known for filmmaker, producer, actor, writer.

What is Rakesh Kumar (Director)’s marital status?

Rakesh Kumar (Director)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Rakesh Kumar (Director) married to?

Rakesh Kumar (Director) is publicly listed as married to Usha Rakesh (Sharma).