Jaggesh

Acting • 1963-03-17 • Tumkur, Karnataka, India

**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).