Yash

Yash made his film debut in 2007 with a supporting role in Jambada Hudugi, portraying a husband whose infertile wife seeks a uterus transplant. His performance was well received. The following year, he played the romantic interest in Moggina Manasu (2008), a teen drama directed by Shashank. Initially cast as a last-minute replacement, Yash impressed with his performance and won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in Kannada. The film marked his breakthrough in the industry.

His first lead role came in Rocky (2008), where he played a college student struggling with family issues. However, the film failed both critically and commercially. In 2009, he starred in Kallara Santhe, playing a student-turned-auto-rickshaw driver contemplating suicide, and later in Gokula, a family drama. Both films failed at the box office, though critics appreciated Yash’s performances.

In 2010, Yash found his first solo box office success with Modalasala, a romantic comedy praised for his dance skills. He followed it with Rajadhani (2011), a crime action film that underperformed despite positive reviews for his restrained acting. That same year, he starred in Kirataka, a remake of Kalavani (2010), playing a mischievous student. The film became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2011.

In 2012, Yash had three releases. Lucky, a romantic comedy where he played a commercial director with a dual identity, received mixed reviews but was a commercial success. Jaanu, an action romance about a hotel owner battling family opposition for love, was well-received for its action sequences. His final release, Drama, directed by Yograj Bhat, saw him reunite with Radhika Pandit. Their chemistry was widely appreciated, and the film became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of the year.

In 2013, Yash made a cameo appearance in the Kannada-Tamil bilingual film Chandra, featuring in the song “Tasse Otthu” (Kannada)/”Raaja Raajan” (Tamil). He then starred in Googly, a college romance directed by Pavan Wadeyar, portraying a misogynistic university student who later reunites with his lost love after becoming a successful businessman. Wanting to break away from village-centric roles, Yash revamped his image for the film, which became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of the year. Critics praised his performance, and Googly significantly boosted his stardom, setting him on the path to becoming a mass hero. He closed the year with Raja Huli, a remake of Sundarapandian (2012), which was a commercial success.

In 2014, Yash starred in the action-packed Gajakesari, which performed well at the box office. Critics appreciated its strong storytelling and Yash’s commanding screen presence. He followed this with Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari, alongside Radhika Pandit, which was released on 25 December 2014. The film received positive reviews and became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films, collecting around ₹50 crore.

Yash continued his success streak with Masterpiece (2015), which was a commercial hit despite mixed reviews. Some critics found his performance overdone, especially in the film’s attempt to draw parallels with Bhagat Singh. In 2016, he starred in Santhu Straight Forward, which was moderately successful, earning around ₹30 crore at the box office.

In 2018, Yash starred in K.G.F: Chapter 1, the first installment of Prashanth Neel’s two-part action epic. Released in Kannada along with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, the film was made on a then-unprecedented budget of ₹80 crore, making it the most expensive Kannada film at the time. It became the highest-grossing Kannada film during its theatrical run and marked Yash’s rise to national prominence.

The sequel, K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), featuring Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon, shattered records, grossing over ₹10 billion and becoming the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Yash’s portrayal of Rocky, a ruthless assassin-turned-gold kingpin, was widely acclaimed. While some critics had mixed views on the film, his performance was lauded, with Hindustan Times calling him “unmissable” and Rediff.com noting that his “sly humor and unbridled ferocity” elevated the role.

Philanthropy and other work

In 2017, Yash and Radhika Pandit established the YashoMarga Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on social welfare. Their first initiative tackled the water crisis in Karnataka’s Koppal district, where they invested ₹40 million to desilt lakes and provide clean drinking water to 40 villages. That same year, Yash sought police protection due to death threats.

In the political sphere, Yash campaigned for S. R. Mahesh (Janata Dal Secular) and S. A. Ramdas (BJP) in the 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. In 2019, he endorsed independent candidate Sumalatha, wife of Ambareesh, in Mandya. While he has not entered politics, he has expressed openness to the idea.

Beyond politics, Yash has actively participated in social campaigns. In 2019, he collaborated with Bangalore Police for an anti-drunk driving initiative before New Year’s. His fans also launched an environmental campaign to plant trees and conserve water ahead of his 34th birthday. In 2021, he donated ₹5,000 each to 3,000 Kannada film industry workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.