Eshwar Gowda (born 17 March 1963), known professionally as Jaggesh, is an Indian politician, film actor, director and producer, who mainly works in Kannada cinema. Known for his roles in comedy films and remakes of Malayalam comedy films. He is popular by the moniker 'Navarasa Nayaka'. Considered one of the popular actors, Jaggesh has won Karnataka State Film Awards and Suvarna Film Awards for his acting.
Jaggesh started his film career by playing minor part in Ibbani Karagithu (1982) and then he essayed supporting roles in Ranadheera (1988), Ranaranga (1988), Yuddha Kaanda (1989), Rani Maharani (1990), C. B. I. Shiva (1991) among others and also worked as an assistant director for several films. His first lead role came with Bhanda Nanna Ganda in 1992 but his major breakthrough came in Tharle Nan Maga in the same year.
He is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2022 and the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.
Early and personal life Jaggesh, born on 17 March 1963 as Eshwar is originally from Mayasandra (Jadeya Mayasandra) of Turuvekere Taluk in Tumkur district to a Vokkaliga family.
Jaggesh married 15-year-old Parimala on 22 March 1984 with whom he has sons Gururaj (b. 1987) and Yathiraj (b. 1992). Parimala's brother Sunder Ramu is also an actor.
Career Film He debuted in Ibbani Karagithu (1983) starring Anant Nag and Lakshmi after leaving a film based on AIDS midway. After playing supporting roles for almost 10 years, he got his first lead role in Tharle Nan Maga (1993), directed by Upendra in his directorial debut. His first big grosser was Bhanda Nanna Ganda. In a career spanning 40 years he has acted in nearly 150 films, with notable films including Super Nanna Maga, Server Somanna, Bevu Bella, , , Vaastu Prakaara and Neer Dose. He is popularly known as 'Navarasa Nayaka' of Kananda cinema for his mannerisms and comic timing. He directed two films, Guru and Melkote Manja.
He became the celebrity judge for the comedy show Comedy Khiladigalu and joined the reality show Khiladi Kutumba.
Politics Jaggesh's political affiliation was with the Indian National Congress (INC). He claimed that his father had been a "Mandal Panchayath President, and mother a Zilla Panchayat member in Tumkur." In the 2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, Jaggesh contested Turuvekere, and won with a healthy margin but resigned from the INC to join the BJP. He served as Member of Legislative Council and held the cabinet rank as the vice-chairman of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (K.S.R.T.C.).
Filmography Note: All films are in Kannada.
Year Film Role Notes 1982 Ibbani Karagithu 1985 Shwetha Gulabi Krishna 1986 Hosa Neeru 1987 Sangrama 1988 Ranadheera Maadhu Bhoomi Thayane Sangliyana Ranaranga Jaggu 1989 Yuddha Kaanda Tony Manmatha Raja Ganesh Parashuram M. Shivaraj's son Poli Huduga Raja Yuvaraja Krishna Nee Kunidaga Narasimha Bansi Lal 1990 Ajay Vijay Ranabheri Kempu Gulabi Rani Maharani Prathap Tribesman Challenge Thrinethra Suman 1991 Varagala Bete Sundarakanda Kadana C. B. I. Shiva Chandru Rollcall Ramakrishna Nagaraj Kalla Malla Rowdy & MLA Aranyadalli Abhimanyu 1992 Hatamari Hennu Kiladi Gandu Sindhoora Thilaka Solillada Saradara Manohar Kanasina Rani Bhaskar Tharle Nan Maga Santosh First lead role Sahasi Bhanda Nanna Ganda Krishna Police File Megha Mandara Super Nanna Maga Sundar Alli Ramachari Illi Brahmachari 1993 Server Somanna Soma Gadibidi Ganda Bombaat Huduga Gundana Maduve Gunda Shivanna Shiva Urvashi Kalyana Bevu Bella Military Mava Rupayi Raja 1994 Rayara Maga Bhairava Bhairava Beda Krishna Ranginata Krishna Indrana Gedda Narendra Narendra Prema Simhasana Rudra, Vikram, Kali Triple role 1995 Bal Nan Maga Eshwar Eshwar 1996 Soma Soma Pattanakke Banda Putta Putta 1997 Bhanda Alla Bahaddur Aliya Alla Magala Ganda Ranganna Ranga Anna Andre Nammanna 1998 Arjun Abhimanyu Arjun Jaidev Jaidev Maathina Malla Mari Kannu Hori Myage Vaikunta Yaare Neenu Cheluve Cameo Jagath Kiladi Vijay Kumar, Bhargava Dual role Veeranna Veeranna 1999 Drona Drona alias CM Patela Patela Kubera Nannaseya Hoove Ravi Aaha Nanna Maduveyante Raja 2000 Kiladi Mundaithe Oora Habba Seena Sultan 2001 Jipuna Nanna Ganda Padmanabh Shukradeshe Guru Jodi Sunil Jeetendra Jeetendra Prema Rajya Rusthum Haalu Sakkare 2002 Vamshakkobba Makeup K. D. Roy, Doddamma Dual roleAlso producer 2003 Kasu Iddone Basu Huchana Maduveli Undone Jaana Gopalkrishna Yaardo Duddu Yallammana Jathre Gowda 2004 Aagodella Olledakke Nija Mudhol I.P.S/Kencha Rama Krishna Krishna 2005 Mr. Bakra Gopal 2006 Pandavaru Honeymoon Express Jaggi Venkatesh 100th film Won - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (Rejected) Tenali Rama Rama 2007 Govinda Gopala Govinda Manmatha Puttaswamy, Soorya Dual Role Ganesha Ganesh Patil 2008 Nee Tata Naa Birla Jaggu Kodagana Koli Nungitha Balasubramanya Dheemaku Jaggesh alias Jaggi Cameo 2009 Chickpete Sachagalu Jaggi Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi Himself Cameo Eddelu Manjunatha Manjunatha Suvarna Film Award for Best Actor 2010 Lift Kodla Krishna Aithalakkadi Himself Special appearance 2011 Double Decker Paramesh, Ganapa Dual roles Dudde Doddappa Sudhama Allide Nammane Illi Bande Summane Himself Cameo Bodyguard Jaikrishna 2012 Manjunatha BA LLB Manjunatha 2013 CID Eesha Shankar 2014 Cool Ganesha Ganesha Agraja Sidda Software Ganda Manu 2015 Vaastu Prakaara Mama Dove Himself Special appearance in a song 2016 Neer Dose Jaggesh Kumar Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) 2017 Melkote Manja Manja Also director Mugulu Nage Himself Special appearance in a song 2018 8MM Bullet Murthi 2019Premier PadminiVinayakaKalidasa Kannada MeshtruKalidasa2022Totapuri: Chapter 1 Eeregowda 2023Raghavendra Stores Hayavadana Thothapuri: Chapter 2Eeregowda2024RanganayakaRanganayaka 2026 Raktha Kashmira Himself Special appearance song in "star star"
Director Year Film Notes 2012 Guru 2017 Melkote Manja
As playback singer Year Title Song Music director Co-singer(s) 1992 Bhanda Nanna Ganda "Anthintha Gandu Naanalla" V. Manohar — "O Mahila Manigale" ChandrikaSuper Nanna Maga "Baarayya Sanjege" Manjula Gururaj "Thaalavendare Rhythm" L. N. Shastri Alli Ramachari Illi Brahmachari "Jumma Jumma" L. N. Shastri, Latha Hamsalekha 1993 Gundana Maduve "Maduvemaneli Maduvanagitthi" Manjula Gururaj1994 Beda Krishna Ranginata "Kogileye Kogileye" Chaitra H. G. "Naanu Endu Gellonu" — "Thrilling Thrilling" Manjula Gururaj 1997 Banda Alla Bahadur "Bisi Bisi" (Reprise) K. S. Chithra 1998 Jagath Kiladi "I Love For You" Rajan–Nagendra Anuradha Sriram1999 Drona "L O V E Aadru" Hamsalekha Soumya Kubera "Sketch Bold Sketch" Rajesh Ramanath Sudarshan2001 Shukradeshe Vijayanand "Jambada Koli" — "Kannada Kannada" Rusthum "Mallige Mallige" Sadhu Kokila Surekha2003 Huchana Maduveli Undone Jaana "Chikkammi Kel" Prashant Raj — Yaardo Duddu Yallammana Jathre Havadru Kachabarda V. Manohar Crazy Boys "Haavad Ru" 2005 Mr. Bakra "Metgontho Nange" Sangeetha Madhuri "Bhamini Rukmini" — 2011 Bodyguard "Nambidora Maneya" Vinay Chandra 2012 Manjunatha BA LLB "Brahma Ninge Jodusthini" Guru "Guru" 2013 Cool Ganesha "Beautifullu Hennu" Manikanth Kadri Indu Nagaraj "Idhi Manakey Sadhyam" Gurukiran, Shamitha Malnad 2014 Sachin! Tendulkar Alla "Suttho Bhumi Ane" Rajesh Ramanath — 2017 Jnana Pada "Surya Badalaagavna" Sagar Gururaj 2025 Vidayapati "Ayyo Vidhiye" Dossmode
Television Year Title Role(s) Note(s) 2012 Kaiyalli Koti Helbittu Hoderi Host 2017 Sye to Dance Judge Season 3 2016- 2022 Comedy Khiladigalu Judge 4 Seasons 2017 Weekend with Ramesh Guest Season 3 2017 Khiladi Kutumba Permanent Guest Season 1 2018- 2020 Comedy Khiladigalu Championship Judge 2 Seasons 2019 Kannadada Kanmani Judge
References
External links
Official website (archived)