Sai Ketan Rao (born 10 July 1994) is an Indian actor. He is known for portraying the lead role of Raghav Rao in StarPlus's Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali.
He was then seen in Star Plus's Chashni as Raunaq Babbar (Reddy). He played the double lead role of Agasthya Singh Chaudhary / Surya Pratap Reddy in Star Plus' Imlie.
Ketan's television debut was with Agni Sakshi. He also worked in Hindi web series and a few Telugu web series. His web series include Three Half Bottles (2019) on ZEE5, Love Studio (2020) on YouTube, Lovely (2021) on ShreyasET, and Aham Bhramhasmi (2021) on MX Player and Hungama Digital. He acted in Tollywood films such as Ajay Passayyadu (2019) and Strangers (2021) on Amazon Prime, and Mounam (2020) on Aha.
Rao participated as a contestant on the reality TV show, Bigg Boss OTT Season 3. He entered the show on June 21, 2024 and became one of the top four finalists. The series is streamed on JioCinema Premium.
Early life Sai Ketan Rao was born into a middle-class family in Lonavala, Maharashtra. His father is an architect from Maharashtra, while his mother is a nutritionist from Hyderabad.
He started his schooling in Solapur, Maharashtra but soon shifted to Pune, Maharashtra and finally settled down in Hyderabad, Telangana. He completed his tenth grade in Hyderabad from Vignan School and pursued B. Tech in Computer Science from Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management. After completing his graduation, he completed his MBA in System Operations from Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad Campus.
Ketan was a state-level boxer until suffering an injury due to bike accident.
Personal life In June 2024, he talked about his troubled childhood while the live streaming of Bigg Boss OTT 3. He revealed that his father abandoned the family and his mother raised him and his younger sister as a single parent.
Career Rao worked for an Australian company after completing his education, but he had a strong inclination towards acting since childhood, and joined Ramanaidu Film School. He started his acting career after completing theatre arts and worked on short films and feature films. He has a film production company by the name Aurum Motion Pictures.
Filmography
Television Year Title Role Language Channel Ref. 2017 Agni Sakshi Pratap Telugu Star Maa 2021 Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali Raghav Rao / RR Hindi StarPlus 2023 Chashni Raunaq Babbar (Reddy) 2023–2024 Imlie 3 Agasthya Singh Chaudhary Surya Pratap Reddy 2024Bigg Boss OTT 3 Contestant (4th Place)JioCinema 2026- presentSurag 2.0Inspector Shaurya ShastryDD National
Web series YearTitleRoleLanguagePlatformNotesReference2019Three Half BottlesAdityaHindiZee5LeadBeyond Breakup TeluguMX PlayerGuest2020Love StudioNishantYouTubeLead2021LovelyRohitAham BhramhasmiDarshAmazon Prime, MX PlayerThe Baker and The BeautyRohan KapoorAhaCameo
Short films Year Title Role Language Notes Reference 2016Devil In Disguise Aryan Mishra Telugu Cameo 2017Phasgaya Banda Antony Hindi Supporting2018Panileni Gang Telugu LeadMalli KothagaVadha 2019My Dear RavanaLakshmanVillain 2020Mounam Guest Chuppi Hindi, Telugu 2022aAh!Amar HindiCameoFinal Act Telugu Lead 2024 Mumbai guy vs UP girl Chinmay Rane Hindi 2025 Pereira House Inspector Danish Khan Bestfriend Too Hot To Handle Karn Pishachini
Films Year Title Role Language Reference 2017 Nene Raju Nene Mantri Pellikoduku Telugu 2018 Ajay Passayyadu Vikram 2019 Vykuntapali Abhi 2021 Strangers Varun Most Eligible Bachelor Harsha's Friend 2022 Pellikuturu Party Geeky Udey Vala Kabir
Music videos Year Title Production Singer Writer Starring Ref.2022Mashhoor Banegi AUM StudiosPrateek Gandhi Ritika ChawlaShivangi Khedkar Ishq Ho Jayega Aurum Motion Pictures Ragini Mahajan 2023Phir Kabhi Minara Music Amit Mishra Shabbir Ahmed & Lovely Singh Sanaya Pithawala2024Jee Nahi PaungaRed Ribbon Musik Shariq Shez Rehana Faaiz Urmita Ghosh 2025Haste HasteSVMT Music & Desi Tadka Music Amarinder Eugeniya BelousovaPyaar Ho GayaRed Ribbon Musik Jonita Gandhi & Aankit Kholia Aankit Kholia Riya VediDil Mera Lauta Do Let's Get LOUDER by IN10 Media Network Afsana Khan Sanjeev Chaturvedi Isha AgarwalFasanaZee Music Company Rohit Dubey Bhringu Parashar Samira Kazi
Special appearances Year(s) Title Role Language Channel Refs2024Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar MeiinSurya Pratap Reddy Hindi StarPlus Udne Ki Aasha
Accolades Year Organizer Category Show Result Ref. 2021IWMBuzz Style AwardsEmerging Fashion Icon (Male) Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali 202221st Indian Television Academy AwardsBest Actor (Popular) Iconic Gold AwardsBest Debut TV Actor of the Year (Male) 14th Gold Awards Best Onscreen Jodi (with Shivangi Khedkar) Debut in a Lead Role (Male) 22nd Indian Television Academy Awards Popular Actor - Drama TV Bollywood Life Awards 2022Best Breakthrough StarBest Social Media TV Couple (with Shivangi Khedkar) 202323rd Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor Chashni Grand Tycoon Global Achievers Awards (Film Fare Middle East)Emerging Talent of the Year Mestarlet Excellence Awards 2023 Rising Actor of the Year - Male Imlie 202424th Indian Television Academy AwardsBest Actor (Popular)
References
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