Rupesh Rajanna
FinalistRupesh Rajanna
Bio
Rupesh Rajanna (ರೂಪೇಶ್ ರಾಜಣ್ಣ) is an Indian social activist, Kannada language advocate, actor, anchor, mimicry artist, and entrepreneur born on 1 July in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother singlehandedly, an experience that shaped his resilient and determined character. He married Vani Rupesh; they celebrate their wedding anniversary on 30 April each year. He worked as a television anchor before discovering his calling as a pro-Kannada activist. He rose to statewide prominence through his passionate campaigns protecting the Kannada language and the rights of Kannadigas - most notably his organised protests against the annual Hindi Divas celebrations, launching the hashtag campaigns #WeDontWantHindiDivas and #WewantBharatabhashadivasa on Twitter and mobilising thousands of Kannada speakers. He publicly thanked actor-host Kiccha Sudeep for his own stand on the Kannada language. He organised protests against the Karnataka Maratha Communities Development Corporation (leading to his arrest) and led a rally against Rajinikanth's comments on the Cauvery river dispute (2018). He won nationwide recognition when he predicted - using numerology - that then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa would resign by August 2021, and the prediction came true in July 2021. He is known for his sharp mimicry of leading Sandalwood actors. He founded My Own Business Institute (a start-up mentoring platform) and an event management company. He appeared in the Kannada film Pentagon (2023). In September 2022, he entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 9 as the 13th contestant. His principled, outspoken gameplay made him one of the season's most compelling personalities. He finished as the fourth-place finalist (tied with Divya Uruduga, in a double-elimination at the finale on 31 December 2022).
President of Karunada Sevakaru (Kannada people's welfare group); leading anti-Hindi imposition protests including the #WeDontWantHindiDivas campaign; founding My Own Business Institute; accurate prediction of BSY's resignation in July 2021; mimicry of leading Sandalwood stars; Kannada film Pentagon (2023); finishing as fourth-place finalist on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 9 (2022).