Tarak Ponnappa Wiki, Height, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Tarak Ponnappa or Thaarak Ponnappa is an Indian model and actor, who predominantly works in the Kannada film industry. He is known for appearing in the popular pan-India film sequels K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022) as Daya.

Wiki/Biography

Tarak Ponnappa was born on Friday, 7 June 1991 (age 31 years; as of 2022), and he hails from Bengaluru, Karnataka. His zodiac sign is Gemini.

He did his schooling at BEL Vidyalaya, Bengaluru. Tarak Ponnappa was passionate about acting since childhood, but knowing the uncertain nature of an acting career, he pursued engineering at the Acharya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. He also holds a master’s degree in Highway Technology from Resource Centre for Asphalt and Soil Training Academy (Rasta), Bengaluru.

Physical Appearance

Height: 6′ 2″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Tarak Ponnappa’s father, Prabhu K N Ponnappa, works at Bharat Fritz Werner. His mother’s name is Shobha Koothanda, and his sister’s name is Loshik Ponnappa.

Wife

On 26 January 2020, Tarak Ponnappa got married to Radhika Nanaiah.

Ethnicity

Tarak Ponnappa draws his roots from Kodagu (also known as Coorg), Karnataka, and belongs to the ethnolinguistic group of Kodavas.

Career

Tarak Ponnappa ventured into the entertainment industry as a model. At the beginning of his career, he was associated with Prasad Bidapa Model Management. He has walked the ramp at various fashion events like Karnataka Fashion Week (2013) and Femina Wedding Show (2015) and has modelled for brands like John Players, KnockOut Soda, and Sashi Vangapalli Couture.

Before he started his career as an actor, he worked as a model for four years.

Film

In 2017, he made his acting debut with the Kannada comedy romance film ‘Ajaramara’ in which he played the protagonist Ranavir, a multi-talented orphan with no goals in life.

He appeared in the 2018 Kannada comedy-drama film ‘Brihaspathi’ in which he played the antagonist named Ronnie. A remake of Tamil-hit Velaiyilla Pattathari (VIP), the film follows an underemployed graduate who successfully overcomes various obstacles before and after finding employment.

In 2018, he featured in the Kannada film ‘Kannada Deshadol’ in which he played the role of a police inspector named Vikram Nayak. In the 2018 Kannada drama film ‘6 to 6,’ he played the protagonist. The film narrates the events which happen in a span of 12 hours during which a man, after missing his bus, is forced to walk through the forests to reach his destination. As the story unfolds, the man bumps into a lady, who looks distressed and is chased by a group of thugs.

In 2019, he played the negative role of O Ullas in the Kannada film ‘Adyaksha in America.’ In the popular pan-India film sequels K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), he played the negative role of Daya.

In the 2021 Kannada suspense thriller film ‘Moksha,’ he played the role of Inspector Krishnamurthy.

In 2021, he played the protagonist Vasudev Murthy, a software engineer married to a girl named Sapna, in the Kannada drama film ‘Amruth Apartments.’ In the film, a couple is on the verge of separation when a tragedy in their apartment takes them by surprise.

In 2022, he played the titular role in the dark romantic comedy film ‘Gilky.’ The film revolves around three differently-abled characters. In the film, Gilky, a mentally ill boy neglected by society, falls in love with a girl suffering from cerebral palsy.

Other films in which he appeared include Kotigobba 3 (2021), Triple Whammy (2021), and Yuvarathnaa (2021). Tarak Ponnappa forayed into Telugu cinema in 2021 when he was cast in the Telugu film ‘C.S.I Sanatan’ in which he played the role of Vikram Chakravarthy, a business tycoon capable of doing anything for monetary benefits.

Television

He became a household name with the Kannada romantic TV show ‘Raja Rani’ (2018) in which he played the protagonist Omkar, who gets married to a young clumsy girl named Chukki. Telecast on Colors Super, in the show, Omkar is an army officer who returns home after an injury and starts looking after his coffee business.

In 2021, he made his debut in the Telugu TV industry with the show ‘Ravoyi Chandamama’ in which he played the role of Veeraswamy, who falls in love with a girl who doesn’t like him because of his rugged nature.

Short Film 

In 2019, he starred in the critically acclaimed Kannada short film ‘Aavarta’ in which he played the lead role of Anthony, a young gangster. The story follows Anthony who wants to make a name for himself in the world of crime by killing yesteryear’s don.

Facts/Trivia

• A fitness enthusiast, Ponnappa follows a healthy diet and a strict fitness regimen.

• At the beginning of his modelling career, he used the moniker Jeffery Ponnappa. He is often referred to as Jeffery and Jeffy by his friends and family.
  

  A newspaper referring to Tarak Ponnappa as Jeffery Ponnappa

• It was actor Tharak Ponnappa’s love for the culture and heritage of Karnataka that convinced him to take up a role in ‘Kannada Deshadol’. 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 bagged the role in the film ‘Kannada Deshadol’ after its director, Aviram Kanteerava, saw Ponnappa’s role in the then-upcoming film ‘Moksha’ in which he played Inspector Krishnamurthy.

• A native of Coorg, he is well versed in the Kodava language. He learnt Telugu while shooting for the TV show ‘Ravoyi Chandamama’ (2021).

• He is the recipient of the SIIMA Short Film Award (2019) in the category of Best Actor Male.
  

  Tarak Ponnappa at SIIMA Short Film Award (2019)

• In an interview, he revealed that he had observed monkeys to capture the nuances of his character in the film ‘Gilky.’ 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 his passion for acting, he also enjoys singing.

• His Instagram bio states that he is a flora and fauna enthusiast.

• Tarak Ponnappa idolizes Indian actor Sonu Sood.

• He is a bike lover and owns a Royal Enfield.
  

  Tarak Ponnappa’s Instagram post dedicated to his Royal Enfield bike