Jagadish Kumar

Jagadish was married to Dr. P. Rema, a forensic professor in the Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, who died on 1 April 2022. The couple has two daughters, both are doctors, now married and having their own children. They are settled at Kaladi, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram.

Jagadish is a postgraduate M.Com. rank-holder. He transitioned from a nationalized bank officer to a govt aided college lecturer and to an actor within a short time. In 2016, Jagadish entered into politics using his star value to compete against his colleague and former state minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar for Member of the Legislative Assembly post of the Pathanapuram constituency under the banner of the Indian National Congress and lost in the elections.

In 2016, in Ranjith's movie Leela Jagadish played the negative role of a drunkard father which broke his stereotypical buffoon role and gathered wide appreciation.

Later Jagadish played roles that distinguished him from his earlier stereotyped comedy roles, which has cost him dearly with the audience. In 2010 he scripted for the film April Fool, which was literally copied from Dinner for Schmucks, and the poor scripting resulted in failure. After a hiatus he came alive through television programs as a chief judge for the comedy programme Vodafone Comedy Stars in Asianet and anchored the channel's organized award functions. His policing changed the pattern of existing comedy through media into tight politically correct skits with light humour and morals. This screen presence brought him back more roles in big movies and his compatibility as a superstar both in front of the camera and on the TV stage was well praised by channels. He revealed in an interview as his fellow generation of actors were turning to production, he also is planning to direct a movie with Mammootty in the lead role.

Jagadish again got a break in his career in 2009 with his reappearance as "Appukkuttan" in Harihar Nagar 2, a sequel to In Harihar Nagar. The film went on to become a hit. This proved to be vital for Jagdish as he got another opportunity as the hero in another movie, Decent Parties. Jagadish was established as a comedian and light-hearted hero who evokes spontaneous laughter with a certain whimsical oddity; this was his humour quotient.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, Jagadish failed to reinvent himself as a strong actor and continued doing the same kind of roles as his younger days which did not go well with the audience. Also, a new generation of comedy actors (including Dileep becoming his competitor as a hero in low-budget films, Kalabhavan Mani, Janardhanan and Kalpana turning to comedy roles, and Jagathy Sreekumar turning to a new type of comedy) was rising. He later appeared in stage shows conducted in foreign countries with his self-mocking stances and improvised dialogues.

Jagadish made his acting debut with My Dear Kuttichathan (1984), India's first 3D film. He got a big break with his role as Appukuttan in Siddique-Lal's In Harihar Nagar (1990). His notable films include Godfather (1991), Mimics Parade (1991), Welcome to Kodaikanal (1992), Thiruthalvaadi (1992), Priyapetta Kukku (1992), Mr & Mrs (1992), Pandu Pandoru Rajakumari (1992), Kunukkitta Kozhi (1992), Kasarkode Khaderbai (1992), Kallan Kappalil Thanne (1992), Grihaprevesam (1992), Sthreedhanam (1993), Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993), Injakkadan Mathai & Sons (1993), Simhavalan Menon (1995), Mimics Super 1000 (1996), Hitler (1996),Junior Mandrake(1997),Gramapanchayath (film) (1998). He has written a few scripts as well, most notably Adhipan (1989).

Jagadish started his film career as a cinematographer with the 1978 film Ahalya. He dubbed for various other actors, normally for short dialogues. As an actor, he debuted with a minor role as a cabaret announcer in My Dear Kuttichathan (1984), which was India's first 3-D film. Jagadish became an established actor with his roles in Mutharamkunnu P.O. (1985), where he plays the hero's friend, Nandi Veendum Varika (1986), Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987) and Vandanam (1989). In his early career, he wrote stories and screenplays for a few films including Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986) (story), Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987) (dialogue) and Adhipan (1989) (screenplay). Jagadish's performance as Appukkuttan in In Harihar Nagar (1990), directed by Siddique-Lal, was highly acclaimed. Jagadish proved himself again with terrific comic timing with his role as Mayeen kutty in Godfather (1991), which was directed by the same director duo. He continued to play minor roles in high-budget films until 1993–1994. With the success of these movies, Jagadish became one of the most popular actors in the early to mid-1990s. He acted in the leading role in more than 30 low-budget films, most of which were successes at the box office. He acted in the family-oriented movies Sthree dhanam, Bharya, Ponnaranthottathe Rajavu, and Mr and Mrs. He also acted in the slapstick comedies Pavam IA Ivachan, and Kunukkitta Kozhi. In most movies he shared the hero role with the likes of Mukesh and Siddique. In his prime, he also acted in supporting roles with Mammootty, Mohanlal and Jayaram. The roles in Butterflies, Minnaminunginum Minnukettu and Jackpot earned loud applause from the audience.

P. V. Jagadish Kumar (born 12 June 1955) known mononymously as Jagadish, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, television presenter and former politician. He has starred in over 375 Malayalam films and 2 Hindi films. He is best known for his comic and character roles. Jagadish starred in over 50 films as the lead actor during the 1990s. He was one of the bankable lead stars in Malayalam cinema during the 1990s, along with Mukesh, Siddique, Sreenivasan and Jayaram.

Jagadish was born as the fifth son among six children to K. Parameshwaran Nair and P. Bhasurangi Amma on 21 June 1955 in present-day Chenkal, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. His father was a school headmaster and his mother was a housewife. He has two elder brothers, Dr. Gopakumar and Rajkumar; a younger brother, Sureshkumar; and two elder sisters, Late Dr.P.B.Santha Devi and Chandrika Devi. He had his primary education from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram. He earned a bachelor's in commerce from Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram. Jagadish post-graduated with a Master of Commerce from Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum under the University of Kerala with first rank. He worked as a Clerk in Canara Bank, Edappal, Kerala. Later he became a lecturer and NCC officer in M.G. College, Thiruvananthapuram, a college run by NSS. He had also worked as lecturer in Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur ,Kannur. He had dreams of becoming a film actor, so he took a long leave from his job and tried his luck in films.