Vinay Rajkumar was born to actor and film producer Raghavendra and Mangala. He is the grandson of actor Rajkumar. He has a younger brother, Guru. The actors Shiva and Puneeth are his uncles. Vinay earned a bachelor's degree in Commerce from St. Joseph's College of Commerce, Bangalore. Vinay's grandfather, Rajkumar first brought him on-screen at the age of five in the film Aakasmika (1993). Vinay followed this with appearances in Odahuttidavaru