After a brief stint in teaching, Mysurean Akshata Ganesh passionately follows her dream of acting and cinema

By S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

She is a shining example of a woman achieving her dream of becoming an actress while balancing her roles as a teacher, wife and mother. Having established herself as a successful English teacher at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, Akshata Ganesh has now stepped into acting — a passion she has nurtured since her college days in Mysuru.

Today, she is widely recognised for her portrayal of ‘Savithri’ in the popular television serial ‘Antharapata.’ On International Women’s Day, Star of Mysore celebrates the achievements of this versatile actor, dedicated teacher and devoted mother.

A post-graduate in English from the University of Mysore, Akshata pursued a teaching career at the prestigious Dhirubhai Ambani International School, where she and her husband, Nishanth Nagavar, were part of the English faculty.

Among their students were children of renowned personalities, including Mukesh Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan.

“Nishanth and I were invited for an interview in 2005, and both of us were selected to join the English Department at Dhirubhai Ambani International School. My time there was an incredible learning experience, shaping me both personally and professionally. I was fortunate to attend some of the best workshops across the world, which significantly enriched my journey as a teacher. For this, I am forever grateful to the school administration,” says Akshata Ganesh.

Pull towards acting

After a decade of working as an educator in Mumbai, Akshata Ganesh felt an undeniable pull toward acting. This passion led her to enroll in ‘Actor Prepares,’ the renowned acting institute run by Anupam Kher. Balancing her professional and personal commitments, Akshata travelled daily from Bandra (East) to Santa Cruz (West) for her acting classes, which ran from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Despite her demanding schedule, her dedication to teaching never wavered. While pursuing her acting course, she volunteered at ‘School of Life,’ an NGO providing free education to underprivileged children. “It was Anupam Kher who introduced me to ‘School of Life.’ Knowing that I was a teacher, he told me about the NGO and the teacher in me just couldn’t say no. I used to visit the school during my free time and teach the kids,” shares Akshata.

First cameo role

Akshata credits her maternal grandmother, Sheela Bopaiah, for encouraging her to follow her dreams. Though she had trained at a prestigious acting school under a legendary actor, breaking into the film industry was far from easy. After enduring multiple auditions, she landed a cameo role in a stage play directed by Akash Khurana, a noted actor and director.

“The journey as an actor was challenging. Having spent over a decade in one of the country’s most prestigious educational institutions, transitioning into films and television was anything but smooth. But looking back, I have no regrets. The experience has been incredibly fulfilling. Watching legendary actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah prepare and perform on stage was truly enriching,” says Akshata.

Akshata’s breakthrough after struggle

Her breakthrough came after days of struggle, when she landed a role in an advertisement for a detergent brand alongside the late Irrfan Khan. The ad earned her industry recognition, catching the eye of a casting director who offered her another commercial.

This paved the way for bigger opportunities, eventually leading her to roles in ‘Raaz 3,’ ‘Hate Story 2,’ and ‘Hate Story 3’ — all while continuing her teaching career at Dhirubhai Ambani International School.

Days after gaining recognition in the film industry, Akshata Ganesh made the bold decision to quit her teaching career and step into acting full-time. She landed a significant role in the popular television series ‘Crime Patrol – Dastak,’ which resonated with audiences across the country.

While deeply engaged in the series, fate intervened, calling her back home. A casting director approached Akshata for Season 2 of the hit Kannada comedy soap ‘Silli Lalli,’ directed by ‘Sihi Kahi’ Chandru.

She took on the role of ‘Lalithamba,’ which brought her widespread popularity among Kannada television viewers. Now, she is set to appear as ‘Nandini’ in the upcoming Zee Kannada serial ‘Shravani Subramanya.’

Towards empowerment

Beyond acting, Akshata strongly believes in women’s empowerment and has personally taken steps to support it. She has been instrumental in helping her housemaid, Manjula, become literate. Manjula, who was once illiterate, is now learning to read and write — thanks to Akshata’s efforts to ensure she attends Kannada tuition for two hours every day.

“I want women to be independent and live life on their terms. Every woman deserves access to basic education, opportunities in sports or training in life skills so that they can achieve financial independence,” says Akshata.

Hailing from Mysuru, Akshata is the daughter of Pandanda Subbaiah Ganesh and Anita Ganesh, residents of Bamboo Bazaar, Tilaknagar. She is married to Nishanth Nagavar, Vice-Principal at Greenwood High International, Bengaluru. The couple has a son, Aanyav Nagavar. Her in-laws are Prof. Kalegowda Nagavara and Kempamma.