Tarak Ponnappa

Some Lesser Known Facts About Tarak Ponnappa

• Tarak Ponnappa is an Indian model-turned-actor, who is known for his works in the Kannada film industry. He is popular for playing the role of Daya in the famous pan-India film sequels K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022).

• Although acting intrigued Tarak since childhood, he pursued engineering knowing the uncertain nature of an acting career.

  

• Around 2013, Tarak Ponnappa started his career as a model while he was attending the Acharya Institute of Technology. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a freelance model and was associated with the modelling agency Prasad Bidapa Model Management.

  

• Tarak has modelled at numerous fashion events like Karnataka Fashion Week (2013) and Femina Wedding Show (2015). He has also worked as a model for various brands like John Players, KnockOut Soda, and Sashi Vangapalli Couture.

  

• After working as a model for four years, he ventured into the Kannada film industry with Ajaramara (2017). The film follows a talented young man with no career plans whose life takes an unexpected turn when he falls in love with a beautiful independent woman.

• The 2018 Indian Kannada comedy-drama film ‘Brihaspathi,’ featured Tarak in the role of the antagonist Ronnie.

  

• His admiration for the culture and heritage of Karnataka convinced him to take up a role in the 2018 Kannada film ‘Kannada Deshadol’ in which he appeared as Vikram Nayak, a police inspector. In an interview, he said,
  

  I wanted to do the role as the film throws light on what is the culture of the state and showcases the beauty of the language.”

  He secured the role in ‘Kannada Deshadol’ after its director, Aviram Kanteerava, saw Tarak’s work in the then-upcoming film ‘Moksha.’

• In 2018, he played the lead role in the Kannada drama film ‘6 to 6.’ The film follows a man, who, after missing his bus, is forced to walk through the forests to reach his destination. On his way, he encounters a distressed lady who is being chased by a group of thugs.
  

• He appeared in the negative role of O Ullas in the Kannada film ‘Adyaksha in America’ (2019).

• He struck stardom with popular pan-India film sequels K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022) in which he starred in the negative role of Daya.

  

• His debut Kannada TV show, ‘Raja Rani’ (2018), was telecast on the channel Colors Super. In the show, an army officer named Omkar returns home after an injury and gets married to a young clumsy girl named Chukki.

• In the critically acclaimed 2019 Kannada short film ‘Aavarta,’ he played the lead role of a young gangster named Anthony. In the short film, Anthony tries to make a name for himself in the world of crime by killing yesteryear’s don.

  

• In 2021, he featured in the Kannada suspense thriller film ‘Moksha’ as Inspector Krishnamurthy, who chases a sinister masked man and tries to reveal the mystery around his identity.

  

• In the 2021 Kannada murder mystery film ‘Amruth Apartments,’ he played one of the protagonists Vasudev Murthy, a Kannadiga software engineer who is married to a Bengali girl named Sapna. The film follows a couple, who, on the verge of separation, find themselves in the midst of a murder mystery which leads them to fight the tough situation together.

  

• In 2021, he appeared in the Kannada films Kotigobba 3, Triple Whammy, and Yuvarathnaa.

• In the same year, he forayed into Telugu cinema after being cast in the investigative thriller film ‘C.S.I Sanatan’ in which he played the role of a money-driven business tycoon named Vikram Chakravarthy.

• Tarak Ponnappa is a fitness enthusiast and follows a strict fitness regimen.

  

• He garnered critical acclamation for starring in the titular role in the dark romantic comedy film ‘Gilky’ (2022). The film follows three differently-abled characters who are ignored by society and create their own beautiful world for themselves. In the film, Gilky, who works in a garage and has a mental illness, falls in love with Nancy, a young girl suffering from cerebral palsy.

  

• In an interview, while talking about his character in the film Gilky, he revealed that he used to observe monkeys to develop the nuances of his mentally ill character. He said,
  

  I had to lose weight and nail Gilky’s signature smile. For this, I observed monkeys to pick up nuances, such as raising my eyebrows just right.”

• Apart from being fluent in the Kodava language, the actor also learned Telugu when he was cast in the TV show ‘Ravoyi Chandamama’ (2021)

• He bagged an award in the category of Best Actor Male at the SIIMA Short Film Awards (2019).

  

• Besides acting, he also loves to sing.

• The bio on his Instagram account reads that he is a flora and fauna enthusiast.

• Sonu Sood is his favourite actor.

• Tarak Ponnappa is fond of bikes and owns a Royal Enfield.