'Becoming A Celebrity Was Never My Dream': Kannada Actor Jaggesh On His Life Beyond Cinema

Kannada actor Jaggesh Shivalingappa, famously known as Jaggesh, has recently displayed a flair for writing along with his acting career. Last month, people were left amazed when Jaggesh penned a poem in Kannada recalling his childhood days after coming across defunct coins like twenty paise and ten paise. After winning hearts with his poem, the actor has now penned another long note, a self-introspection of his journey as an actor and in life in general.

Jaggesh’s note reads, “Everyone strives in their way to achieve fame. Some pursue careers in acting, others in stage performance, television, through their mobile phones, or on platforms like YouTube. The pursuit of celebrity status is common; otherwise, one may succumb to feelings of depression. Becoming a celebrity was never my dream. I simply aimed for a typical life with my spouse, facing challenges and victories, and experiencing life’s ups and downs like any ordinary person.”

He continued,” Regardless of the blessings received from various gods or the guidance from gurus, coupled with my efforts, fame was attained. However, amidst this, my joy seemed to fade away. The ability to find happiness in everything, as everyone else does, diminished. Comments and criticisms from others, whether constructive or not, and the superficial appreciation garnered on social media, all seemed to erode my happiness. The life of a celebrity often feels like a prolonged confinement or, conversely, like being a beggar—either way, it’s a life of extreme”

He ended the note by saying, “Despite this, I endeavour to live freely, akin to others, cherishing life like a bird released from a cage or revelling in its natural habitat. However, whether true contentment is achieved or not, it’s undeniable that there has been a small transformation, like not being confined to one place, in the life of this celebrity. Once, during my journey, after concluding a business deal with a timber merchant and offering him two fruits to bring him joy, his eyes sparkled with tears of happiness, akin to the divine blessing of Lord Shiva’s sacred water. Life is akin to a theatrical performance, society its stage, God its director, and fans its audience, acting as friends and family.”