Kannada superstar ran away from home with Rs 300, served tea to survive; delivered Rs 1,250 cr hits

Yash turns 40 on January 8. (Credit: Facebook/@TheOfficialYash)

Although Kannada cinema has witnessed the rise of several stars over the decades, Yash undoubtedly stands apart, having played a key role in taking the industry to unimaginable heights and placing it at the centre of Indian cinema for all to see. While his KGF: Chapter 1 (2018), helmed by Prashanth Neel, was the first Kannada film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark as it earned Rs 250 crore in its lifetime, the period actioner’s sequel, KGF: Chapter 2 (2022), is still the only movie from the regional industry to have registered a worldwide gross of over Rs 1,000 crore. In fact, it is still one of only nine Indian films ever to cross this coveted milestone.

Yash’s journey in pursuit of cinema and his eventual ascent to the top are fine examples of how far persistence and hard work can take someone. The son of Arun Kumar, who was a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus driver, and Pushpa, a homemaker, Yash (née Naveen Kumar) had movie aspirations since childhood.

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In school, he often participated in dramas and dance competitions, earning praise from all. Although his parents were not initially supportive of his acting dreams, with his father wanting him to pursue a government job, Yash had already made up his mind. He eventually left his hometown for Bengaluru to realise his movie aspirations.

However, in contrast to his expectations, nothing arrived on a platter upon his arrival in the city. “I thought I’d be a superstar the minute I got here (in Bengaluru). I lived in my own dream world,” he told The News Minute during a 2019 interview. Yash added, “I ran away from my home. When I came to Bengaluru, I was scared the minute I reached. Such a big, intimidating city. But I was always a confident guy. I wasn’t scared to struggle. I had just Rs 300 in my pocket when I reached Bengaluru. I knew if I went back, my parents would never allow me to return here. My parents gave me an ultimatum. I was free to try my luck as an actor. But after that, if it didn’t work out, I had to do what they asked me to.”

Yash’s Toxic will hit screens later this year.

To survive in the city, Yash entered the theatre circuit and started taking up odd jobs there. “I began doing theatre. Someone luckily took me to do theatre. I knew nothing about it. I began making money backstage; chai se lekar poora sab kuch (from bringing tea to everything)… Initially, I also served as an assistant to a director to enter the Kannada film industry.” He subsequently made his foray into the television scene and, from there, entered cinema, making his debut in director Priya Hassan’s Jambada Hudugi (2007).

Yash became a successful actor in no time. Yet he did not forget where he came from and, when possible, lent a helping hand to those in need. He, along with his wife, actor Radhika Pandit, established the Yasho Marga Foundation, a philanthropic initiative, in 2017. According to its official website, the foundation revived lakes like Tallur in Koppal district in 2017 and restored drinking water supplies to over 20 villages. In the same year, the organisation also supplied drinking water via tankers to over 50 villages across Kalaburagi and Vijayapura during a severe drought crisis.

Yash, who turns 40 on Thursday, January 8, is currently gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated period gangster film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. He is also acting in and co-producing Nitesh Tiwari-directed Ramayana, with an estimated budget of Rs 4,000 crore. Helmed by Geetu Mohandas, the movie also features Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi in key roles. Toxic will hit the screens worldwide on March 19, 2026.