40 Facts About Yash (Actor)

Naveen Kumar Gowda was born on 8 January 1986, and better known by his stage name Yash, is an Indian actor who works in Kannada films.

Yash began his career with appearances in several television series in the 2000s.

Yash followed it up with a series of romance films that were commercial successes, and received his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor nomination for Drama in 2012.

Yash went on to establish himself as a leading actor of Kannada cinema with the college romance Googly, comedy-drama Raja Huli, fantasy action Gajakesari, romantic comedy Mr and Mrs Ramachari, action film Masterpiece and action romance Santhu Straight Forward.

The pan-India success of Prashanth Neel's 2018 period action film K G F: Chapter 1, which became the highest-grossing Kannada film, helped Yash attain nationwide recognition in India and win his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

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Yash won further praise for his performance in the sequel, K G F: Chapter 2, which ranks as the third highest-grossing Indian film.

Yash promotes various social and philanthropic causes through the YashoMarga Foundation.

Yash is married to actress Radhika Pandit and have two children.

Yash was born on 8 January 1986 in Boovanahalli, a village in Hassan, Karnataka.

Yash was given two names: Naveen, legally, and his mother's side of the family, named him Yashwanth.

Yashwanth was chosen, as they believed that his time of birth astrologically necessitated a name beginning with the letter ?.

Yash has a younger sister, Nandini, who is married to a computer engineer.

Yash aspired to be an actor from a young age and actively participated in theatre and dance competitions at his school in Mysore.

Yash wanted to quit school and pursue full-time acting, after completing grade 10.

Yash studied at the Mahajana Education Society for all his school years.

Yash worked as a backstage worker and was paid 50 per day.

Yash eventually became a backup actor, and in 2004, portrayed Balarama in the lead role for a play.

Yash made his television debut the same year with the teleserial Uttarayana.

Yash went on to appear in several other teleserials such as T N Seetharam's Male Billu and Preeti Illada Mele.

Once Yash had secured a stable income, his parents moved in with him to Bangalore.

Yash debuted in 2007 with a supporting role in Priya Hassan's Jambada Hudugi, which saw him play a man whose infertile wife seeks uterus transplantation.

Yash next played the romantic interest of his Nanda Gokula co-actor Radhika Pandit's character in the teen drama Moggina Manasu, directed by Shashank, which follows the love lives of four girls who become friends in college.

Yash was cast in a last-minute decision after Shashank's initial choice for the role fractured their leg and required rest for six months.

Yash was sporting a beard for Preeti Illada Mele but Shashank reached out to him and convinced him to shave clean for the role.

Yash then starred in the title role in the romance Rocky opposite Bianca Desai, playing a college student who has a troubled relationship with his parents.

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In 2010, Yash starred in the romantic comedy Modalasala, alongside Bhama.

Yash then starred in Googly, a college romance directed by Pavan Wadeyar, playing Sharath, a misogynist university student who dates Swathi, but breaks up with her after being convinced that she is cheating on him.

Intent on moving away from village-centric roles as in Kirataka and Drama, Yash saw Googly as a means to reinvent himself and adopted a different hairstyle for a "young and charming look".

The Times of India noted that the success of Googly contributed to Yash's increasing stardom and put him on the path to becoming one of the leading stars of the industry.

In 2018, Yash starred in the first instalment of the two-part Prashanth 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.

Yash met Radhika Pandit on the sets of Nanda Gokula in 2007.

Yash has campaigned for S R Mahesh of Janata Dal in Krishnarajanagara and S A Ramdas of Bharatiya Janata Party in Krishnaraja constituency in the 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections.

Yash has stated that he is open to entering politics if the situation arises.

Yash has collaborated with the Bangalore Police for a campaign against drunk driving in 2019, in the days leading up to New Year's Day.

Yash acquired pan-Indian stardom following the success of the K G F films, and is cited in the media among the few South Indian actors with an audience in North India.

Yash has stated that while his success in the Kannada industry felt gradual and over the years, the later nationwide recognition was an "overnight" phenomenon.

Yash debuted on The Times of Indias Bangalore Times Most Desirable Men list in 2012 at 11th place.

Yash has since appeared on the list several times, and was ranked first in 2013,2017 and 2020.

Yash has been described in sources as the highest-paid actor in the Kannada film industry, and one of the highest in South Indian cinema in general.

Yash is a representative for Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi League.