Seriously funny

Jaggesh, who has  made people laugh for decades now, didn’t really have a smooth start. His sheer hardwork and persistence has made him one of the most sought-after stars in the Kannada film industry, writes S Nanda Kumar.

Comedian Jaggesh has been in the business for 34 years now, beginning his acting career in the Kannada film industry in a quiet manner, landing small roles in films. But the actor was determined to make it big, and there are many tales of his relentlessly pursuing top producers and directors for a break. His determination paid off, and today, he is the main lead in the films he acts in, and has tasted big success.

His first big grosser was Banda Nanna Ganda, after which his name alone was enough to bring in the crowds. But success sits lightly on this lively actor, a trait he says he absorbed after spending a lot of off-screen time with Kannada film icon Dr Rajkumar.

“Simplicity was a characteristic that ran in his very blood. One thing Dr Rajkumar taught us was that even if one has achieved everything in life, the universe is so big that your achievement is equal to the size of a mustard seed.

‘However much you grow in stature, be a simple human being. You’re always learning, you’re always a student,’ he used to say. I have followed this till today, and even though I have done 140 films, I continue to learn new things,” he says, the adulation for Dr Rajkumar is evident in his voice and eyes.

A childhood dream

Jaggesh says that he wanted to be an actor even when he was a child. “When they used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always say an actor. Other children would say a doctor, an engineer, a pilot etc.” Named Eshwara, Jaggesh, who hails from Turuvekere in Tumkur district, took the name his grandfather used to call him by for films. And like many who went on to make acting their main profession, he took part in many school cultural programmes. His childhood idol was Dr Rajkumar, and he watched all his films while growing up, never imagining that he would one day spend hours chatting with the ever-popular star.

The actor remembers rushing to the Chamundeshwari Studio when he learnt that Dr Rajkumar was watching the rushes of a film that he had acted in. That was the first time that Jaggesh met his icon, something he says remains indelible in his memory. “I got a role as a villain in his son Shivarajkumar’s film Ranaranga. I came to know that he was watching the RR copy. The door was locked, but I waited there. He came out discussing the film, and when he saw me, he appreciated my Kannada in the film. That was the biggest award I received. He recommended me for other films. He also came to know from other people around him that I was a hardcore fan of his. Whenever I got a chance, I also discussed each of his films, some of the scenes, some of the good messages that emanated from certain films.”

Strangely enough, Jaggesh’s overwhelming popularity with the audiences proved to become a stumbling block, and industry lore has it that many top actors refused to share screen space with the comedian. Jaggesh confirms this with great animation. “Oh, yes. I was the highest paid character artiste. Even in those days, I would be paid Rs 2 lakh per film. But soon all the actors, one by one, started telling the director if I was a part of the film, they couldn’t give their shooting dates. Out of fear of losing the actors’ dates, directors started cutting all my assignments down.

Except Ambarish, nobody else was willing to work with me. The same Ambarish told me, ‘You are so popular, why don’t you go become a hero? People will come and watch you.’ I said I would try…” That setback became the stepping stone to his becoming a leading actor.

“My brother-in-law N Srinivas brought in his hard-earned money and produced Banda Nanna Ganda.” He gestures expansively as he indicates the large, spacious three-storeyed house we are chatting in, “It was with the money from that film that I bought this house.” Success has strange ways of arriving.

Comic timing

Speaking about the use of double-entendres in comic dialogues in Kannada films possibly contributing to serious filmgoers staying away, Jaggesh is quick to cut in. “I think that’s a wrong assumption. If there is a simple love story that is a mega hit, it is because of these factors. You take any language. If you make a ‘preachy’ film, that is fit only for television. If you want to win the race at theatres, you have to be prepared to experiment with many such factors. I should know — I have produced 23 films myself. And other language films have gone to such a level of graphically showing so many things — we’re only making some jokes.”

Jaggesh is all praise for wife Parimala’s support in his career. “If I have achieved anything today, all credit goes to my wife’s love and affection.” They have two sons, Guru Raj and Yathi Raj. While both his sons are already a part of the Kannada film industry, the younger one, Yathi Raj, is preparing to be launched in 2014 as a lead actor in a film that has been scripted by Jaggesh.

Asked what advice he had for people dreaming about making it big, Jaggesh was direct. “Please don’t dream! If I become a super star, if I get that kind of role…no! Instead of dreaming about that, prepare yourself to become that. If you want to be a writer, go and meet many writers, ask them how they wrote, what was their inspiration…when you get an opportunity, you should be prepared. Be ready.”

The conversation moves to fans, and their extraordinary affection for their stars. Jaggesh went quiet for some seconds. “Film star Lakshmi was making a programme for television. She called me and said there was somebody who was on his deathbed, and that his last wish was to meet me. Even as I heard that request, I was moved to tears. He was laid out on a stretcher when I went to meet him. He said he did not know why he liked me so much — but that he was very happy now, even if he died the next day.”

Three films starring Jaggesh are under production now: Agraja, Neer Dosa and Cool Ganesha. He says he is stuck with always playing a comedian. “I would love to be known as a versatile actor — as a comedian, a sentimental hero, an action hero, an adventure hero…that is one regret I have. I want to do so many roles that I have not yet done. So, watch Agraja — you will see a different Jaggesh,” he says with an air of suspense. He says he could never stay away from cinema.

“This is the best second mother one could have. My biological mother breast-fed me. Cinema has given me everything else — name, fame, money, power…if there ever is an option to choose between politics and cinema, then I would say, till my last breath, that I want to be in cinema.”