Prakash Jha Biography: Age, Net Worth, Movies, Height, Ex-Wife, Kids, Parents, Awards, Films, Career

Prakash Jha is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor who is widely recognized for his powerful, thought-provoking socio-political films.

He originally started his career making independent documentaries before moving into mainstream Hindi cinema, where he established himself as a master storyteller of raw, real-world issues.

He is celebrated for directing hard-hitting dramas that critique political corruption, societal inequality, and the justice system, earning multiple National Film Awards and carving out a distinct legacy as a socially conscious filmmaker who also acts in compelling roles.

Prakash Jha
Wiki Facts & About Data
Name:	Prakash Jha
Born:	February 27, 1952 (age 74 years old)
Place of Birth:	Bettiah, Bihar, India
Nationality:	Indian
Ethnicity:	Bihari
Height:	1.75m
Religion:	Hinduism
Parents:	Shri Tej Nath Jha and Smt. Vijaya Jha
Siblings:	Prabhat Jha and Praveen Jha
Spouse:	Deepti Naval (m. 1985–2002)
Relationship:	Divorced
Children:	Disha Jha
Occupation:	Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor
Net Worth:	$15 million

Early Life and Education

Prakash Jha was born on February 27, 1952, in Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar, India. He was raised on his family’s farm by his parents, Shri Tej Nath Jha and Smt. Vijaya Jha, alongside his brothers, Prabhat Jha and Praveen Jha.

He completed his schooling at Sainik School Tilaiya in Koderma and later attended Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 in Bokaro Steel City. He moved to New Delhi for higher studies at Ramjas College, Delhi University, where he enrolled in a BSc Physics program but dropped out after a year to pursue painting.

Later, he relocated to Mumbai to prepare for admission into the J.J. School of Arts, but his interest shifted to filmmaking after witnessing a live film set. This inspired him to study film editing at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. Belonging to the Bihari ethnic community, he practices Hinduism.

Career

Prakash Jha initiated his professional journey in show business during the late 1970s by working on independent documentaries, as student protests had disrupted his formal editing course at FTII. He made his feature film directorial debut in 1984 with Hip Hip Hurray, a sports drama that received warm praise, and quickly followed it up with the critically acclaimed film Damul, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.

Despite the initial struggles of making non-commercial movies in an industry focused on escapism, he steadily built a reputation for handling gritty, realistic themes with incredible maturity and creative control.

His career hit massive commercial heights in the 2000s when he directed a string of highly successful socio-political thrillers, starting with the hard-hitting cop drama Gangaajal and the crime film Apaharan. He reached a spectacular high point with the multi-starrer political epic Raajneeti in 2010, which became a huge box-office hit, followed by other notable issue-based projects like Aarakshan and Satyagraha.

In recent years, he has successfully expanded his creative portfolio by taking up prominent acting roles, earning rave reviews for his performances in films like Jai Gangaajal and Saand Ki Aankh, alongside his work as a director on the popular streaming series Aashram, cementing a powerful legacy as a versatile storyteller who uses cinema as a mirror to modern Indian society.

Awards and Nominations

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film – Damul (Won)
• National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues – Mrityudand (Won)
• National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues – Gangaajal (Won)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @prakashjproductions
• Facebook Handle: @PrakashJhaProductions
• Twitter Handle: @prakashjha27

Personal Life

Prakash Jha is 74 years old and stands at a height of 1.75m. His personal life includes his high-profile marriage to the acclaimed Indian actress Deepti Naval, whom he wed in 1985 after they collaborated together on his first feature film; though the couple mutually separated and finalized their divorce in 2002, they have maintained a warm, lifelong friendship.

Together, they adopted a daughter named Disha Jha, who has grown up to follow in her parents’ footsteps as an independent film producer and assistant director. He has no other past or rumored relationships on public record.

Net Worth

Prakash Jha has an estimated net worth of around $15 million. He accumulated his wealth through his long-running career as a director, writer, and producer under his production company, Prakash Jha Productions, which has delivered several successful films.

His earnings are also supported by business ventures, including ownership of commercial properties such as P&M Mall in Patna and P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall in Jamshedpur, along with income from his recent acting roles in films and streaming series.

Filmography

• Hip Hip Hurray
• Damul
• Parinati
• Mrityudand
• Rahul
• Gangaajal
• Apaharan
• Dil Dosti Etc
• Raajneeti
• Aarakshan
• Chakravyuh
• Satyagraha
• Jai Gangaajal