Raza Murad started his career in the mid-1960s and he initially played sympathetic brothers and brotherly figures in the 1970s. From the 1980s on, he has mainly played either supporting roles of a father, uncle or villainous roles. He studied in Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, from 1969 to 1971 and received a diploma in film acting. He has a memorable baritone voice. One of his most memorable performances as a character actor has been the role of a despondent poet in the 1973 hit film "Namak Haraam" alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna.