Jai Akash, also known as Akash, is an Indian actor, who acted in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
,
Telugu and
Kannada
Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...
films. He is famously known for the film ''
Anandam'' (2001).
Career
Jai Sathish, of Sri Lankan Tamil origin settled in London, sent his modelling photographs to the "Star Search" service run by
Suhasini's entertainment portal website TamilTalkies.com during the late 1990s.
K. Balachander used the 'Star Search' platform when casting a new actor to portray the second hero role in ''
Rojavanam'' (1999) and selected him to be in the film under the stage name of Akash.
Akash's first Telugu film, ''
Anandam'', directed by
Sreenu Vaitla
Srinu Vaitla (born 24 September 1972) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his work in Telugu cinema, particularly in the action comedy genre. He has received several accolades, including five Nandi Awards—three for Best Sc ...
and produced by
Ramoji Rao
Cherukuri Ramoji Rao (16 November 1936 – 8 June 2024) was an Indian businessman, media proprietor and film producer. He was head of the Ramoji Group which owns the world's largest film production facility Ramoji Film City, '' Eenadu'' news ...
, was a Silver Jubilee film for which Akash won many awards for his excellent natural acting. He became an overnight sensation who gained renowned attention from many top producers and directors. However, Akash elected to select projects with new directors, but most of these projects were produced by struggling producers. He acted in several Telugu films including the unreleased ''June July'' opposite Actress
Sadha
Sadaf Mohammed Sayed, known professionally as Sadha, is an Indian actress known for her work in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada cinema, as well as Telugu television. She made her film debut with the Telugu film ''Jayam'' (2002), directed by Teja ...
, ''
Pilisthe Palukutha'' opposite
Shamitha Shetty, directed by
Kodi Ramakrishna
Kodi Ramakrishna (23 July 1949 – 22 February 2019) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor, known for his work in Telugu cinema. Over the course of his career, he directed more than 100 films across various genres, earning a repu ...
, the songs of which composed by
M. M. Keeravani became a hit, especially the song "Manasa Ottu Maatadothu".
He returned to Tamil as a lead with the film ''
Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu'' (2003), a remake of ''Anandam,'' opposite Neha, which was again produced by Ramoji Rao. He was credited as Jai Akash due to the presence of
Aravind Akash, an actor with a similar name.
In 2004, he teamed up with Sreenu Vaitla again in ''
Anandamanandamaye''.
He also starred in six Tamil films between 2004 and 2005; ''
Ramakrishna
Ramakrishna (18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886——— —), also called Ramakrishna Paramahansa (; ; ), born Ramakrishna Chattopadhay,M's original Bengali diary page 661, Saturday, 13 February 1886''More About Ramakrishna'' by Swami Prab ...
'', ''
Kicha Vayasu 16'', ''
Gurudeva'', ''
Sevvel'', ''
Amudhae'' and ''
Kaatrullavarai
''Kaatrullavarai'' () is a 2005 Indian Tamil language romantic drama film directed by Radha Bharathi. The film stars Jai Akash and Pranathi, with Vadivelu, newcomer S. Suresh, newcomer Madhupriya, Rajesh, Rajeev, Kazan Khan and R. Sundarr ...
''. The Tamil films he acted as hero were with top Tamil directors, such as
Agathiyan
Agathiyan (born 18 August 1952; ) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, lyricist, and actor. He was the first director in Tamil cinema to win the National Film Award for Best Direction for '' Kadhal Kottai'' (1996). For the film, h ...
and
Ezhil, but those films didn't get proper release.
Jai Akash again returned to the Telugu film industry as a second hero and acted in three films produced by
Super Good Films
Super Good Films, also credited as Mega Super Good Films in Telugu cinema and Hindi cinema. is an Indian film production and distribution company in Tamil cinema. It was established in the 1980s by R. B. Choudary.
History
R. B. Choudary hai ...
, namely ''
Andala Ramudu'' (2006), ''
Nava Vasantham
''Nava Vasantham'' () is a 2007 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language film directed by K. Shahjahan and starring Tarun (Telugu actor), Tarun, Jai Akash, Akash, Rohit (Telugu actor), Rohit, Priyamani, Sunil (actor), Sunil and Ankitha, Ankita. ...
'' (2007) and ''
Gorintaku'' (2008). All of these three films became super hit and again Akash received many offers to star as a hero in Telugu. In 2009, he acted and directed a Telugu film named, ''Sweet Heart'', and also acted in the Tamil romantic movie, ''
Adada Enna Azhagu''. In 2010, he starred in a bilingual movie,''
Vandae Maatharam'', where he played alongside
Mammootty
Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, ...
and
Arjun Sarja
Srinivasa Sarja (born 15 August 1962), better known by his stage name Action King Arjun, is an Indian actor, producer, and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has mainly acted in Tamil cinema, Tamil films in addition to Telugu ...
along with a huge array of actors in supporting roles.
After a break in directing, Jai Akash returned as a director and acted in the film ''
Ayudha Porattam'' (2011), which dealt with the issue of arms supply to the island nation of Sri Lanka during the civil war. Following which, he also worked as a director and acted as a hero in the films ''Kadhalan Kadhali'' (2011), ''Yuganiki Okka Premikudu'' (2012), ''Mr. Rajesh'' (2013) and ''Aa Iddaru'' (2013). A notable mention to his self-directed Telugu film, ''Mr. Rajesh'', where he acted in seven roles.
Jai Akash entered the television field in 2020 with the Tamil soap opera ''
Neethane Enthan Ponvasantham'' which premiered on 24 February 2020. In 2023, he entered the Telugu television field with the series ''
Anu Ane Nenu''. In 2024, he returned to the Tamil television industry with the series, ''
Nenjathai Killadhe''.
Personal Life
He was rumoured to be the former lover of
Actor Vijay's wife Sangeetha. However, Jai Akash has denied this and stated he is only acquainted with Sangeetha through Tamil school in London and nothing more.
Filmography
;As distributor
*''Oruthal'' (2016)
Television
Awards
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akash, Jai
Living people
Indian male film actors
Male actors in Tamil cinema
Male actors in Telugu cinema
Male actors in Kannada cinema
21st-century Indian male actors
Tamil film directors
1981 births