By Y.D. Shekar

Mysore/Mysuru: A model from Nanjangud near Mysuru, who had won Mr. Asia title, has turned a successful agriculturist during this lockdown. He has changed the bottom line with floriculture and agriculture. 

He is D.C. Nagesh, son of Chinnabuddi and Renuka couple of Devanoor village in Nanjangud. He had won the Mr. Asia title held in Nepal’s Kathmandu from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7. He also won the titles of Mr. Asia Adventure and Mr. Asia South India Model and has achieved name and fame. Also, he has participated in many fashion shows in Karnataka and India and has earned laurels. 

With COVID-19 induced lockdown, the entire fashion industry is shut and having no other alternative he returned to his roots and became a farmer, following his father’s footsteps. Having a passion for farming along with modelling, it was not very difficult for Nagesh to adjust to his new lifestyle after years of walking on the ramp amidst cheering audience. 

He actively indulged in farming and has successfully grown banana, marigold, chilli, tomato and also other flowers which are in demand. He is in favour of growing multiple crops simultaneously, irrespective of the size of the land. Each crop needs a different kind of mineral from the land, he told Star of Mysore. 

“Earlier, I was busy with fashion shows and preparing for those shows. I did not get time at home as I was always busy. But with the lockdown, I am enjoying my days at home. Now, I turned a farmer by cultivating vegetables,” said Nagesh. 

Nagesh, though born to a rural agrarian family, has nursed his dreams of acting in Kannada movies since childhood. “Passion for acting has made me to try out different career like modelling, which is also a part of acting.  I entered the modelling world in 2016 in New Delhi. I have also obtained training in acting from senior Rangayana artiste Mime Ramesh for six months. I am waiting for a chance to act in Kannada films,” he said. 

Greatly influenced by his farmer father and mother who assists him in fields, Nagesh believes that farmers play an important role in the nation’s economy. “We are eating food because of farmers who till the land and grow grains. Though he is in poverty as he does not get his fair share in market prices, he ensures that others don’t go hungry,” Nagesh said. 

His love for farming is reflected when he usually walks the ramp in a farmer’s outfit, complete with a metal plough on his shoulder and a towel wrapped on his head. 

“Many people including the judges of the fashion shows have appreciated the outfit as it is special and I have won many prizes,” Nagesh  revealed and added that he would continue to promote farmer’s outfits from various regions to raise awareness about farming  practices and the need to conserve them.