Yash | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Yash in 2018 | |
| Born | Naveen Kumar Gowda 8 January 1986 (1986-01-08) (age 39) |
| Alma mater | K.L.E. College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Naveen Kumar Gowda (born 8 January 1986), known by his stage nameYash,[1] is an Indian actor who predominantly works inKannada cinema. He is a recipient of threeFilmfare Awards South and twoSIIMA awards.[2][3][4] Yash began his career with appearances in several television series in the 2000s. He made his film debut in 2007 withJambada Hudugi. The 2008 romantic dramaMoggina Manasu, for which he received theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, proved to be a breakthrough role for Yash.
His first film in a leading role,Rocky (2008), was poorly received by critics and a box office flop. Yash went on to establish himself as a leading actor ofKannada cinema with the college romanceGoogly (2013), comedy-dramaRaja Huli (2013), fantasy actionGajakesari (2014), romantic comedyMr. and Mrs. Ramachari (2014), action comedy filmMasterpiece (2015) and action romanceSanthu Straight Forward (2016). Thepan-India success ofPrashanth Neel's period action filmsK.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) andK.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), helped Yash attain nationwide recognition. The latter ranks as thehighest-grossing Kannada film.
Yash promotes various social and philanthropic causes through the Yasho Marga Foundation. He is married to the actressRadhika Pandit. Yashomarga is a charitable foundation established by him and Radhika pandit.[5]
Yash was born on 8 January 1986 in Boovanahalli, a village inHassan, Karnataka.[citation needed] He was given two names: Naveen legally, and his mother's side of the family named him Yashwanth.[6][a] Yashwanth was chosen as they believed his time of birthastrologically necessitated a name beginning with the letterಯ (ya).[8] In keeping with aHindu tradition of giving children a deity's epithet, Yash was described asNanjundeshwara ("poison-drinker god", referring toShiva).[8][9] Before starting his acting career, he was advised by others in the industry to adopt astage name.[10]
Yash's father, Arun Kumar Gowda, was a driver for theKarnataka State Road Transport Corporation and later theBangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. His mother, Pushpa, is a homemaker.[11][12] He has a younger sister, Nandini, who is married to a computer engineer.[12] Yash aspired to be an actor from a young age and actively participated in theatre and dance competitions at his school inMysore.[11] When he was young, his family also ran a provision store, where he would help out regularly.[13] Yash wanted to quit school and pursue full-time acting after completing grade 10 but had to complete senior school on the demand of his parents.[11] He studied at the Mahajana Education Society for all his school years.[14] His parents initially disapproved of his acting ambitions, and his father wanted him to be a government officer.[13] In 2003, they relented and allowed him to move toBangalore at the age of 16 to work on a film as an assistant director, but stated that he would not be allowed to go back if he returned.[11] The project was cancelled after only two days of filming, but Yash stayed in Bangalore.[11] He stated he had₹300 (equivalent to₹1,100 or US$13 in 2023) with him at the time.[13] He joined a theatre group, the Benaka drama troupe, which was formed by dramatistB. V. Karanth.[15] He worked as a backstage worker and was paid₹50 (57¢ US) per day.[11]
Yash eventually became a backup actor, and in 2004, portrayedBalarama, the lead role in a play.[11] While still working in theatre, he completed hisBachelor of Arts at Bangalore'sK.L.E. College.[14] He made his television debut the same year with the teleserialUttarayana.[12] In 2005, he was offered a role in the teleserialNanda Gokula, where he starred alongsideRadhika Pandit.[11] He went on to appear in several other teleserials such asT. N. Seetharam'sMale Billu andPreeti Illada Mele.[12][11] Once Yash had secured a stable income, his parents moved in with him toBangalore.[11] During this time, he was offered roles in seven films, but his insistence on having the script for each film made available to him was viewed as "arrogance from a newcomer" and often refused.[11]
Yash debuted in 2007 with a supporting role in Priya Hassan'sJambada Hudugi, which saw him play a man whose infertile wife seeksuterus transplantation.[16] A critic fromIndiaglitz wrote that "Yash is very good in his debut".[16] He next played the romantic interest of hisNanda Gokula co-actor Radhika Pandit's character in the teen dramaMoggina Manasu (2008), directed byShashank, which follows the love lives of four girls who become friends in college.[17] He was cast in a last-minute decision after Shashank's initial choice for the role fractured their leg and required rest for six months. Shashank then happened to see Yash in an episode ofPreeti Illada Mele and was impressed by his performance. Yash was sporting a beard forPreeti Illada Mele but Shashank reached out to him and convinced him to shave clean for the role.[18] R.G. Vijayasarathy ofRediff.com found the film worked despite its screenplay and highlighted Yash's performance among the male cast as impressive.[17] The role won him theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in Kannada at the56th Filmfare Awards South.[19] The film is considered to be Yash's breakthrough project.[12]
Yash then starred in the title role in the romanceRocky (2008) oppositeBianca Desai, playing a college student who has a troubled relationship with his parents.[7]Rocky emerged to be a critical and commercial failure; Vijayasarathy, who found him promising inJambada Hudugi andMoggina Manasu, wrote that "he looks uncomfortable here, as the role lacks clarity".[7][20] In the first of his two releases in 2009, theSumana Kittur-directed action dramaKallara Santhe, he played Somu, a post-graduate student and laterauto rickshaw driver who is driven to consider suicide.[21][22] To promote the film, he drove the winners of a local contest around Bangalore in an auto rickshaw, an event that attracted media attention.[22] Writing forThe New Indian Express, a critic was not impressed with the screenplay: "Though this film showcases contemporary issues such as extra-marital affairs, corruption and nepotism among politicians, the director has not succeeded in presenting them very well."[21] The second release,Prakash's family dramaGokula, featured an ensemble cast includingVijay Raghavendra andPooja Gandhi. A critic forThe Times of India found the film to appeal only to "those who love sentimental stories celebrating the bond between mothers and sons", but appreciated the starring performances, including Yash's.[23] BothKallara Santhe andGokula failed to do well commercially.[24]
In 2010, Yash starred in the romantic comedyModalasala, alongsideBhama. TheDaily News and Analysis felt the film had "its funny moments and occasionally, an overdose of sentimental scenes" and highlighted Yash's prowess as a dancer, calling him "easily one of the best we have in Sandalwood".[25] The film was a commercial success, becoming Yash's first solo box office hit.[26] His next release was the crime actionRajadhani (2011), about a group of friends who commit a murder for money and go on the run from a cop played byPrakash Raj.[27] The film failed to meet critical and commercial expectations, withRediff.com saying that its promising messages were lost in consumerism, but found Yash to be the best performer among the cast: "He puts up a restrained performance and gets to play more than a motor-mouth lover boy."[27][24] The same year, he appeared inKirataka, a remake of theTamil-language romantic comedyKalavani (2010), playing a wayward student who falls in love with his batchmate, played byOviya.[28][29] Lakshminarayana was appreciative of the film and wrote, "Yash is easily Kannada industry's best brat. The film gives him scope to exhibit his dance moves and at the same time brings out his acting talent."[28] With earnings of₹30 million domestically,Kirataka was one of the top-grossing Kannada films of 2011.[30]
Yash had three film releases in 2012. The romantic comedyLucky saw him play Lucky, an aspiringcommercial director who gets an unrecognisable makeover and changes his name to Vicky. Vicky tried to woo Gowri (played byRamya), a radio jockey, but finds that she loves Lucky.[31] Srikanth Srinivasa ofRediff.com commended the "relaxing, feel-good movie," writing, "Yash looks dashing in the second half as the well-behaved Vicky but he is also equally at ease in his earlier avatar as Lucky."[32] In contrast, a critic for theIndo-Asian News Service felt it was dragged down by being "predictable, inconsistent and illogical" and stated Yash "scores well as a dancer," but disliked his chemistry with Ramya.[31] The action romanceJaanu, directed byPreetham Gubbi, followed a hotel owner who must overcome familial pressure to unite with his lover.[33] A critic for the Indo-Asian News Service stated the film was "good for a one-time watch" and appreciated the fight sequences involving Yash.[33] BothLucky andJaanu were fairly successful commercially.[34][35] His final release of the year wasYograj Bhat's romantic comedyDrama, starring opposite Radhika Pandit. Shruti I.L. ofDaily News and Analysis found the pair to be "a cute on-screen couple" and felt they "liven[ed] up the screen with their effortless performances."[36] It was one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2012.[35]
Yash first appeared on-screen in 2013 in the Kannada-Tamil bilingualChandra, with a cameo appearance in the song "Tasse Otthu" (Kannada)/"Raaja Raajan" (Tamil).[37] He then starred inGoogly, a college romance directed byPavan Wadeyar, playing Sharath, a misogynist university student who dates Swathi (played byKriti Kharbanda), but breaks up with her after being convinced that she is cheating on him. Years later, he becomes a successful businessman and encounters her.[38] Intent on moving away from village-centric roles as inKirataka andDrama, Yash sawGoogly as a means to reinvent himself and adopted a different hairstyle for a "young and charming look".[24] The film performed well and was one of the year's highest-grossing Kannada films.[39]The Times of India noted that the success ofGoogly contributed to Yash's increasing stardom and put him on the path to becoming one of the leading stars of the industry.[40] A critic writing for the newspaper found that Wadeyar "infused life into the story with excellent making" and granted "full marks" to Yash, highlighting his performance in the "sentimental sequences".[38]Googly was followed by a series of hero-centric films whose primary selling point was Yash's screen presence, establishing him as a "mass hero".[41] His final release of the year was Guru Deshpande's comedy-dramaRaja Huli, a remake of the Tamil-languageSundarapandian (2012), which emerged to be a commercial success.[42] Shyam Prasad S. ofBangalore Mirror called the film "a perfect blend of entertainment and drama" and noted, "Despite a hero-glorifying title, the film is not an action-adventure."[43]
In 2014, he starred inGajakesari, which was directed by Krishna and became commercially successful at the box office.[44] A critic forSify found it to carry "a neatly sketched story and a well-executed script with good visuals" and appreciated his performance, suggesting that "nobody could have done this better than him."[45]
His next filmMr. and Mrs. Ramachari opposite Radhika Pandit had its theatrical release on 25 December 2014, and opened to positive reviews and collected an estimated₹50[46] crore, and went on to become one of thehighest grossing Kannada cinema.[47][48][49]
In 2015, he acted inMasterpiece, which emerged as a commercial hit at the box office.[50] Archana Nathan ofThe Hindu disliked the film for its contrived parallel of the main character withBhagat Singh and wrote of Yash, "His dialogue delivery is high-pitched and monotonous as is his acting."[51] In 2016, he starred inSanthu Straight Forward which performed fairly well at the box office by collecting ₹30 crore.[52]
In 2018, Yash starred in the first instalment of the two-partPrashanth Neel-directed K.G.F series,K.G.F: Chapter 1, which was released in Kannada along with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Produced on a budget of₹80crore, it was the most expensive Kannada film at the time and emerged as thehighest-grossing Kannada film during its theatrical run.[53][54] Yash grew out his beard for the role.[55]K.G.F: Chapter 1 emerged to be apan-Indian film, earning him nationwide recognition.[56] The sequel,K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), which also starredSanjay Dutt andRaveena Tandon, became thefourth highest-grossing Indian film ever with earnings over₹10 billion.[57] His performance in the series as Rocky, an assassin and gold kingpin who takes over theKolar Gold Fields, received praise. A critic writing for theHindustan Times opined he was "just unmissable."[58] Sukanya Verma ofRediff.com was critical of the film but felt that Yash's "sly humour and unbridled ferocity hits all the right notes."[59]
Yash met Radhika Pandit on the sets ofNanda Gokula in 2007. They became close friends after working together in films and eventually began dating, but kept their relationship private for years.[60] Media speculation regarding the nature of their relationship intensified afterMr. and Mrs. Ramachari, their third film working together.[8] They were engaged inGoa on 12 August 2016 at a private event with close friends and family.[61] They married on 9 December 2016 in Bangalore in a ceremony that saw celebrities and politicians from Karnataka attending.[62] Two separate wedding receptions were organised: one for friends and family, and another for fans atBangalore Palace.[63] They have two children.[64][65]
In 2017, Yash, along with Pandit, founded the YashoMarga Foundation, a social welfare non-profit organisation.[66] In their first mission, the foundation addressed a water crisis in Karnataka'sKoppal district by investing₹40 million towards desilting lakes and providing pure drinking water to 40 villages in the region.[67] That year, he sought protection from the police owing to death threats.[68]
Yash has campaigned forS. R. Mahesh ofJanata Dal (Secular) inKrishnarajanagara andS. A. Ramdas ofBharatiya Janata Party inKrishnaraja constituency in the2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections.[69] In 2019, he endorsed independent candidateSumalatha, wife ofAmbareesh, inMandya constituency.[70] He has stated that he is open to entering politics if the situation arises.[71] Yash has collaborated with theBangalore Police for a campaign against drunk driving in 2019, in the days leading up to New Year's Day.[72] 50 days before his 34th birthday, his fans organised an environmental campaign to plant trees and save water.[73] In 2021, he donated₹5000 each to 3000 workers in the Kannada film fraternity to ease their financial burden after theCOVID-19 pandemic.[74]
After the release ofMoggina Manasu in 2009, Yash was considered a "wonder boy" in the media for his appearance, mannerisms, and "ability to dance to any tune".[41] Later films would see him play characters falling into the "mass hero" trope.[41] He is sometimes credited as "Rocking Star Yash", a name that originated among his fans for his image of "a rugged idol who follows no rules but his own".[75] Another news outlet attributed the nickname to the "rocking" back-to-back commercial success of his films.[41]
Yash is cited in the media among the few South Indian actors with an audience in North India.[76][56] He stated that while his success in the Kannada industry felt gradual over the years, the later nationwide recognition was an "overnight" phenomenon.[77] Writing forIndia Today in 2022, Janani K. called him the "poster boy of Kannada cinema" for being the most recognisable person working in that industry across India.[78] In 2019, he became the first Kannada actor to be featured on the cover ofForbes India.[79]Forbes India further ranked him third on their list of most influential celebrities onInstagram from South India in October 2021.[80] Yash debuted onThe Times of India's Bangalore Times Most Desirable Men list in 2012 at 11th place.[81] He has since appeared on the list several times, and was ranked first in 2013, 2017 and 2020.[82][83][84] In 2019, he was included byGQ India in their list of 50 most influential young Indians.[85]
Yash has been described as the highest-paid actor in the Kannada film industry, and one of the highest in South Indian cinema in general.[61][86][87] In addition to being an active celebrity endorser for several brands, he partnered withMarico's grooming brand Beardo in 2020 to create a lifestyle label "Villain", which includes perfumes and clothing.[88][89][90] He and his wife are joint ambassadors for Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil.[91] Yash is a representative forBengaluru Bulls in thePro Kabaddi League.[92]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Jambada Hudugi | Lakshmikanth | [12] | |
| 2008 | Moggina Manasu | Rahul | [17] | |
| Rocky | Rocky | [7] | ||
| 2009 | Kallara Santhe | Somu | [21] | |
| Gokula | N. Raja | [23] | ||
| 2010 | Thamassu | Imran | Cameo appearance | [93] |
| Modalasala | Karthik | [25] | ||
| 2011 | Rajadhani | Raja | [27] | |
| Kirataka | Nandisha | [28] | ||
| 2012 | Lucky | Vikram "Vicky" Kumar "Lucky" | [31] | |
| Jaanu | Siddharth | [33] | ||
| Drama | T. K. Venkatesha | [36] | ||
| 2013 | Chandra | Dancer | Special appearance in the song "Tasse Otthu" & "Raaja Raajan" | [37] |
| Googly | Sharath | [38] | ||
| Raja Huli | Raja Huli | [42] | ||
| 2014 | Gajakesari | Krishna & Bahubali[b] | Dual role | [45] |
| Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari | Ramachari | [94] | ||
| 2015 | Masterpiece | Yuva | ||
| 2016 | Santhu Straight Forward | Santhu | ||
| 2018 | KGF: Chapter 1 | Raja Krishnappa Bairya / Rocky Bhai | [95] | |
| 2022 | KGF: Chapter 2 | [96] | ||
| 2026 | Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups† | TBA | Simultaneously filmed in English; also co-writer and producer | [97] |
| Ramayana Part One | Ravan |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Uttaran | unknown | [12] | |
| Silli Lalli | unknown | [41] | ||
| 2005 | Nanda Gokula | unknown | [98] | |
| 2006 | Preeti Illada Mele | unknown | [99] | |
| 2007 | Male Billu | Arjun | [12] | |
| Shiva | Aditya | [100] |
| Year | Track | Album | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Annthamma" | Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari | [101] |
| 2015 | "Annange Love" (withChikkanna) | Masterpiece | [102] |
Yash is a recipient of threeFilmfare Awards South from eight nominations —Best Supporting Actor – Kannada forMoggina Manasu, andBest Actor – Kannada forMr. and Mrs. Ramachari andKGF: Chapter 1.[94][103]
