Jai Akash, also known as Akash, is an Indian actor, who acted in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films.^[2] He is known for the film Anandam (2001).

Jai Sathish, a Tamilian of Sri Lankan 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, when casting a new actor to portray the second hero role in Rojavanam (1999), used the "Star Search" platform and selected him to be in the film under the stage name of Akash.^[3]

Akash began his career with his first film in Telugu, Anandam, directed by Sreenu Vaitla and produced by Ramoji Rao. Anandam was a Silver Jubilee film and Akash won many awards for his excellent natural acting. He was the overnight super star and many top producers and directors were in queue to sign him. But, Akash acted in new directors films and struggling producers films. He acted in several Telugu films including the unreleased June July opposite Sadha, Pilisthe Palukutha opposite Shamitha Shetty, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna and the songs composed by M. M. Keeravani became a hit especially the song "Manasa Ottu Maatadothu".^[4] He returned to Tamil as a lead with the film Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu (2003) opposite Neha, which was a remake of Anandam, also produced by Ramoji Rao. He was credited as Jai Akash due to presence of Aravind Akash, an actor with a similar name.^[1] In 2004, he teamed up with Sreenu Vaitla again in Anandamanandamaye. He also starred in six Tamil films between 2004 and 2005; Ramakrishna, Kicha Vayasu 16, Gurudeva, Sevvel, Amudhae and Kaatrullavarai. The Tamil films he acted as hero were with all the top directors, such as Agathiyan and Ezhil but the films didn't get the proper release.

Jai Akash returned to the Telugu film industry as a second hero and acted in three films produced by Super Good Films with Andala Ramudu (2006), Nava Vasantham (2007) and Gorintaku (2008). All the three films became super hit and Akash got many offers as hero in Telugu. He acted and directed a film called Sweet Heart. In 2009, he acted in the romantic story, Adada Enna Azhagu.^[5] In the bilingual movie Vandae Maatharam (2010), he played alongside Mammootty and Arjun Sarja along with a huge array of actors in supporting roles.^[6] Jai Akash returns after a gap and is both acting in and directing this film Ayudha Porattam (2011), which deals with the issue of arms supply to the island nation of Sri Lanka.^[7] Kadhalan Kadhali (2011), Yuganiki Okka Premikudu (2012), Mr. Rajesh (2013) and Aa Iddaru (2013) are the films in which he acted as a hero and also worked as the director. In the Telugu film Mr. Rajesh, he acted in seven roles.^[8]

In 2020, Jai Akash acted as the hero in soap opera Tamil's Neethane Enthan Ponvasantham which premiered on 24 February 2020, has successfully completed 300 episodes on 12 May.^[9]

In 2005, Jai Akash's Gurudeva released and failed at the box office. The Telugu version of the film, Guru also failed with Muppa Ankanna Rao, the executive producer of the version, failing to promote the film. Rao launched complaint to the police that Akash had hired attackers to threaten him for failing to publicize the film and subsequently Akash was arrested but later released.^[10]

In 2009, Jai Akash filed a complaint to the Nadigar Sangam against actress Sunaina following allegations from her which claimed that she was not a part of the intimate scenes in the film, Madan and that Jai Akash as director had used a double.^[11] Denying such reports, Jai Akash went on to claim that Sunaina was attempting to distance herself from the film.^[12]

Films

As distributor

• Oruthal (2016)^[16]