
Superstar Yash is celebrating his birthday today. The actor has been a sensational star in recent times since the rise of his film KGF. Yash, born as Naveen Kumar Gowda didn’t have an acting background. He had the humblest beginnings and came from a middle-class family, wherein his father was a government employee and his mother a housewife.
On his birthday, let’s take a trip down memory lane and reflect upon his journey to stardom. Yash, who was an unrecognized actor and how he came to become the beloved Rocky bhai.
Initial struggles

Yash ran with Rs 300 from his home, when he was a teenager and got situated at Bengaluru. He started his tough journey by being a backstage worker serving tea and earning Rs 50 per day. Yash navigated his way to success through hard work and determination.
Entering the acting business
The actor initially began his acting career with television shows. Before mastering the big screens, Yash did supporting roles in TV shows. He entered the acting business with the serial Nanda Gokula. He also played prominent cameos in shows such as Mukta, Silli Lalli and Malebillu.

On the sets of Nanda Gokula, Yash met his now-wife Radhika Pandit. She was already cast in the show and Yash joined later on. They became friends from thereon and soon their friendship turned into love. Now, the couple are happily married and are parents to Ayra and Yatharv.
Yash’s acting career gained momentum when he played a remarkable role in the TV show Preethi Illade Mele before entering the world of cinema.
Turning point

After doing several roles on the small screen, Yash got a breakthrough when he was cast in his debut film Jambada Hudugi in 2007. The actor was instantly cast in Shashank’s Mogginna Manasu (2008) later on. This occurred with the director’s initial lead suffering through a leg injury and having to have 6 months of bed rest. That’s when Shashank came across Yash’s performance in Preethi Illade Mele and approached him for the respective role. He even won a Filmfare for Best Supporting Actor.
Big screen breakthrough

A turning point came in 2011 when Yash was cast as a lead actor in his hit film Kirataka. This was also the time after which the actor did many rom-com films and was seen as a romantic hero. He came to be referred to as Rocking Star in the Kannada film industry. Yash did notable roles in films such as Masterpiece, Googly, Mr and Mrs Ramchari, Rajahuli, Lucky, and Jaanu among others.
National Sensation

The actor gained nationwide recognition from the biggest film of his career KGF. Initially made as a Kannada film, which wasn’t revised with high hopes. The film did wonders at the box office. KGF marks as a lucky charm for the actor as it opened him to pan-India stardom. He was loved and cherished throughout and created a fanbase among audiences from different languages. His film K.G.F: Chapter 2 was also a big hit and all thanks to Prashanth Neel for having faith in Yash.
Now, the actor is a phenomenal figure in the acting industry. He has earned himself respect and love through his determination and hard work. Coming from a modest background, Yash struggled vigorously to become one of the most celebrated actors of South Indian cinema. Currently, he is gearing up for his upcoming film Toxic, which is scheduled to release in 2025.