Rajesh Vivek

Actor · Died January 14, 2016, aged 66 · Джаунпур, Уттар-Прадеш, Индия

Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay was an acclaimed Indian stage and film actor who had appeared in over 70 films acting in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema since the late 1970s. He was perhaps best known for his roles in the multi-award-winning Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Swades (2004), and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). All three movies were directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. He is also remembered for his earlier roles in Raj Kapoor's blockbuster final film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), the Ramsay brothers' cult horror film Veerana (1988) in which he plays a priest, and Shekhar Kapur massively acclaimed Bandit Queen (1994) as well as the popular TV series Mahabharat (1988). He was also nominated for his role on Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) by the International Indian Film Academy for his performance in a comic role. He has a M.A in Ancient History and Archaeology from the T.D Degree College in 1970-71.

What are Rajesh Vivek's films like?

Across their 6 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Action2 titles56^th

Drama2 titles98^th

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight

Self

24%

Morality

23%

Bonds

20%

Power

17%

Society

12%

Survival

3%

Purpose2 Romantic love2 Community2 Justice2

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 6

Serious

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 1 · Intense 3

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Slow burn

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Engaged

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Affecting

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Allyas Mustaquim in Bandit Queen (1994)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense

3

Hopeful

3

Warm

3

Melancholic

3

Romantic

1

Other

5

How their films linger

Hopeful4 Rousing3

How their films end · 1 with a twist

Happy2
Bittersweet4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Rajesh Vivek's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 10 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (4).

Also on these channels

Eros Now3 titles, show their 3 titles on Eros Now
Cineverse1 title, show their title on Cineverse
Shout! TV1 title, show their title on Shout! TV
Sundance Now1 title, show their title on Sundance Now

Subscription and free streaming for Rajesh Vivek's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

32 credits, 10 with a MovieCove page.

Hello Hello Whats-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Actor
The American Gandhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
as Mohan
Yavade Subramanyam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
as Pemba
The Lovers(2015)
as Bandit
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Dishkiyaoon(2014)
as Gujjar
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Agneepath(2012)
as Bakshi
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Mumbai Mast Kallander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
as Badey Bhaiya
Do Dooni Chaar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
as Anchor
What's Your Raashee? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
as Bhautesh Joshi
Jodhaa Akbar(2008)
as Chugtai Khan
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Nanhe Jaisalmer: A Dream Come True(2007)
Actor
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Bunty Aur Babli(2005)
as Protestor
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Swades(2004)
as Nivaran Dayal Shrivastav
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Dangerous Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Actor
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India(2001)
as Guran
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Chudail No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Actor
Bhoot Ka Darr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Actor
Loha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
as Thakur Vikraal "Mahakaal"
Bandit Queen(1994)
as Mustaquim
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Maya(1993)
as The Elixir Seller
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Shaitani Badla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Actor
Vishwatma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
as Dacoit Manohar Dev
Vishkanya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Actor
Hatyarin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Actor
Haatim Tai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
as Departed Sinner
Meri Lalkaar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Actor
Tridev (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
as Raghav
Joshilaay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
as Jogi Thakur
The Perfect Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as Zero Police
Veerana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
as Baba
The Discovery of India (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Show 1 episode · as Kapalik Satyasoma · as Sheikh Mubarak
Janbaaz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 89^th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 32 titles from 1986 to 2023; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

Swades (2004)

Midcredits 98^th

Film career

19862023

Peak 1993 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

1993Screen debut· Maya Memsaab

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting32 of 32 · 68^th

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Rajesh Vivek's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68^th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 87^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

87^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

91^stpercentile

Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

83^rdpercentile

Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 10 titles, by percentile

75^th and up5
50^th to 74^th2
25^th to 49^th1
Below 25^th2

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 10 titles are Universally Loved.

Universally Loved4
Divisive1
Cult Classic1
Crowd Pleaser2
Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Maya (1993)

91^st percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Swades (2004)

Midcredits 98^th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Rajesh Vivek's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films

Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 47 · moderate

Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 16 · mild

Profanity3 titlesmedian 32 · mild

Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 30 · mild

Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 36 · moderate

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Rajesh Vivek work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rajesh Vivek's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ashutosh Gowariker shares the most, 3.

Rajesh Vivek

What are Rajesh Vivek's films like?

Genres

Themes

What they feel like to watch

Roles they play

Moods and endings

Where can I watch Rajesh Vivek's films?

Filmography

Career shape

Film career

By role

By decade

Billing

How do Rajesh Vivek's films land?

Shape of the crowd

Is Rajesh Vivek's work okay for kids?

Who does Rajesh Vivek work with?

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers