Rajiv Rai (born 1955 in Mumbai, India) is an Indian film writer, editor and director. He is the son of the late producer Gulshan Rai. He has directed all his films under his father's production company Trimurti Films. He made his debut as a director with the 1985 action film Yudh.

He went on to write and direct several hit films in the action and thriller genres: Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), and Gupt (1997).

His films are also notable for their music composed by Kalyanji-Anandji (in Tridev) & Viju Shah. Their use of popular songs such as Tirchi Topi Wale in Tridev, Saat Samundar Paar in Vishwatma and Tu Chees Badi Hai Mast Mast in Mohra helped his films become hugely successful.

He married Bollywood actress Sonam, whom he had directed in Tridev and Vishwatma in 1989 and 1992 respectively. He has one child with her. In 1997, he had to leave India with his family for the UK after a failed attempt to kill him by hitmen believed to be working for the Mumbai underworld leader Abu Salem.

After a four year hiatus from the Bollywood industry, he returned to directing with his comeback venture Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001). This was an attempt by Rai at directing a romantic drama, a change from his previous action films. The film failed at the box office and Rai returned to the action genre with his next film Asambhav (2004) which also failed to do well. Shortly after the release of Asambhav his father died at the age of 80 of a prolonged illness.

He has not been active in the film industry since 2004.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]