Shankar Nag to Kashinath: FIVE hit directors-turned-actors of Kannada film industry

A director is known as the captain of the ship as he plays a major role in making a movie. However when the director turns to acting it is a different experience all together. They act directly instead of enacting, which gives a real-life touch to the character. Many Indian directors have made it big as actors and even the Kannada film industry has a few directors, who have not just called the shots behind the camera but are acting aces in front of it too.

Shankar Nag was one of the most celebrated director-cum-actor in Sandalwood. He set records by breaking moviemaking rules and he was the first Indian director to shoot underwater. Shankar Nag made his directorial debut in 1980 with ‘Minchina Ota’, a year before that, he had made his acting debut with ‘Ondanondu Kaladalli’ in 1979. Shankar Nag has also directed and acted in a popular TV show. He has to hit credit entertaining films like ‘Janma Janmada Anubandha’, ‘Geetha’, ‘Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige’ and ‘Accident’ to name a few.

Kashinath is known for his dialogues in films, which are all things hilarious. Kashinath was not only a popular actor but also a successful director. He has worked in Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam films as a director and served Sandalwood for three decades. Kashinath entered the film industry as a director in 1976 with the movie ‘Aparoopada Athithigalu’ and he made his acting debut with ‘Anubhava’ in 1984, he was also the director of the film. Kashinath is credited for introducing talents like Upendra, Sunil Kumar Desai, V Manohar, Umashree and several technicians too.

Upendra started his career as an assistant to Kashinatha. Upendra is known as a trendsetting filmmaker and he has directed movies of different genres like comedy, thriller and suspense. Upendra is not just a famous director but he is also a big actor in Sandalwood. After assisting Kasinath, Upendra made his directorial debut with ‘Tharle Nan Maga’ in 1992, he made his acting debut with ‘A’ in 1999. Upendra has directed hits like ‘Shhh!’ and ‘Om’, while he has acted in movies like ‘Raktha Kanneeru’, ‘Anatharu’, and ‘Hollywood’.

Sudeep is known for his acting prowess but few know that he is an ace filmmaker too and has called the shots for many Kannada films. Sudeep made his directorial debut in 2006 with ‘My Autograph’, and directed ‘No 73, Shanthi Nivasa’, ‘Veera Madakari’, ‘Just Maath Maathalli’, ‘Kempe Gowda’, and ‘Maanikya’. He has always made an effort to deliver hit films to the Kannada audiences from other languages. Sudeep is likely to announce his upcoming directorial movie soon, and it is touted to be an original script.

Prem is a leading director in Sandalwood who is known for his action films. He started his career as an assistant director with Sunil Kumar Desai and played a small role in the movie ‘Hello Yama’. Prem made his directorial debut with ‘Kariya’ in 2003 and directed three successful movies and went on to be a successful director in Sandalwood. But Prem is not only a director but has showed off his onscreen presence with ‘Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide’ and several other films.