Naveen Kumar Gowda (born 8 January 1986), known professionally as Yash,[1] is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Kannada films. One of the highest paid actor in Indian cinema,[2][3] Yash is a recipient of several accolades including three Filmfare Awards South and two SIIMA Awards.[4][5][6]
Yash began his career with appearances in several television series in the 2000s. He made his film debut in 2007 with Jambada Hudugi. The 2008 romantic drama Moggina Manasu, for which he received the Filmfare 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 of Kannada cinema with the college romance Googly (2013), comedy-drama Raja Huli (2013), fantasy action Gajakesari (2014), romantic comedy Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari (2014), action comedy film Masterpiece (2015) and action romance Santhu Straight Forward (2016). The pan-India success of Prashanth Neel's period action films K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), helped Yash attain nationwide recognition. The latter ranks as the highest-grossing Kannada film.
Yash is a philanthropist and promotes social causes through the Yasho Marga Foundation, a charitable foundation established by him and actress Radhika Pandit. Yash is married to Pandit, with whom he has two children.[7]
Yash was born on 8 January 1986 in Boovanahalli, a village in Hassan, Karnataka.[citation needed] He was given two names: Naveen legally, and his mother's side of the family named him Yashwanth.[8][a] Yashwanth was chosen as they believed his time of birth astrologically necessitated a name beginning with the letter ಯ (ya).[10] In keeping with a Hindu tradition of giving children a deity's epithet, Yash was described as Nanjundeshwara ("poison-drinker god", referring to Shiva).[10][11] Before starting his acting career, he was advised by others in the industry to adopt a stage name.[12]
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