Bengaluru’s biggest star reveals why he is very happy his parents didn’t have money: ‘They told me never to…’; a look at his impressive networth now

Today, he is one of the richest rising stars in the Sandalwood (Kannada film industry), with a net worth of Rs 50 crore, and stays in a luxurious duplex in Bengaluru. However, KGF star Yash didn’t grow up in the lap of luxury. As per a Deccan Herald report, Yash’s father, Arun Kumar, was a driver for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and later the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. His mother, Pushpa, is a homemaker. In an interview, the superstar opened up about growing up in the lower middle class and how he doesn’t regret growing up without abundance. In a video that has gone viral, the actor explained that he has never and will never regret that his parents were not wealthy.

In the video, which was shared by an Instagram page, Onthiomen, the star, explained, "I am very happy that my parents didn’t have much money.” However, he shared one lesson his parents had taught him: Never to rely on anyone for his well-being and to live on whatever he has earned. He also shared how his parents taught him never to sacrifice his dignity and beg people for work. “Don’t do anything that would require you to hang your head in shame," they told me, shared the star.

A Look At His Career

Yash completed his schooling at the Mahajana Education Society in Mysore. During his teenage years, his decision to pursue acting did not receive immediate support from his family. His father hoped he would choose a career as a government employee instead. However, in 2003, his parents eventually agreed to let him travel to Bengaluru when he was 16 to work as an assistant director on a film project. They made it clear that if he came back, he would not be permitted to leave again.


Also read: 5 foods for 5g fibre per serving: Delhi nutritionist shares everyday picks for better gut health

Also read: Bengaluru entrepreneur shares 5 books that changed how she thinks about work, life and relationships

The film was abandoned just two days after production began, but Yash decided to remain in Bengaluru and pursue his ambitions. At the time, he reportedly had only Rs 300 with him. He soon became associated with the Benaka theatre troupe, established by renowned playwright and theatre personality B. V. Karanth. Initially, Yash worked behind the scenes and earned around ₹50 a day.

He gradually progressed within the theatre group and was given his first major opportunity as a performer in 2004, when he played Balarama, the central character in a stage production. That same year, he entered television with the teleserial Uttarayana.

In 2005, Yash landed a role in Nanda Gokula, a television series in which he appeared alongside Radhika Pandit. He subsequently featured in other popular teleserials, including T. N. Seetharam's Male Billu and Preeti Illada Mele. As his acting career began providing him with a dependable income, his parents eventually relocated to Bengal

His breakthrough came with the coming-of-age romance drama Moggina Manasu in 2008. The 2010 rom-com Modalasala became his first solo hit. He made a name for himself as one of the new-gen heroes in Sandalwood with hits like Kirataka, Lucky, Jaanu, etc. However, it was the 2018 period action film KGF that catapulted him to the status of a pan-Indian star. The movie earned Rs 250 crore worldwide. The sequel, which hit the theatres in 2022, collected a staggering Rs 1200 crore worldwide.