Jaggesh

Biography

*Jaggesh (born Eshwar Gowda, March 17, 1963) is an Indian actor, director, producer, and politician who works predominantly in Kannada cinema. Fondly dubbed "Navarasa Nayaka"* (Hero of Nine Emotions) by fans and the industry, he is regarded as one of Sandalwood's finest comedic actors, known for his rapid-fire dialogue delivery, expressive face, and street-smart comic timing. Hailing from Mayasandra in Tumkur district, Jaggesh entered films in the early 1980s, making his debut with a minor appearance in Ibbani Karagithu (1983). After nearly a decade of playing small character parts and negative roles, he broke out as a lead with Bhanda Nanna Ganda (1992) and Upendra's directorial debut Tharle Nan Maga (1992). The back-to-back success of these films made him a household name and cemented his image as a bankable comedy lead. Through the 1990s and 2000s, Jaggesh delivered numerous commercial hits, notably Super Nan Maga (1992), Server Somanna (1993), Bevu Bella (1993), Beda Krishna Ranginata (1994), and Gundana Maduve (1993). In the mid-2000s, he transitioned into cult satirical and dark comedy spaces with landmark titles like Guruprasad’s Mata (2006) and the critically celebrated Eddelu Manjunatha (2009), the latter earning him wide acclaim for playing an unmotivated, deadpan slacker. Other notable later works include Neer Dose (2016), Premier Padmini (2019), and Ranganayaka (2024). Beyond acting, Jaggesh has directed features like Guru (2012) and Melkote Manja (2017), served as a celebrity judge on the hit reality show Comedy Khiladigalu, and built an active career in public service, having served as an MLA, MLC, and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).