Director Puri Jagannath’s son Puri Akash says he was interested in films from Class II and would ask his father to give him small roles in his movies. Among the roles Akash has done since then are of young Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan and Ram Charan.
Akash’s first film was Chirutha. “I played the younger Ram Charan. My father was the director and he complimented me for my performance,” says Akash. His wish to act as a young Mahesh Babu came true in 'Businessman', again directed by his father. He has also done a full-length role in Dhoni, directed by Prakash Raj. for which he was paid Rs 1 lakh. “I split my first salary into 2 halves and gave them to both my grandmothers,” he says, adding that he doesn’t take money for acting in his father’s films. Akash has also acted in a children’s film, 'Lotus Pond', which was screened in the Children’s festival.
The young actor has one more project at present. “I am playing a young Balakrishna garu in his upcoming film 'Legend'. After this I want to stop acting for some time as I?want to concentrate on studies,” he says
“Once I complete my studies my father said he would send me to the New York Film Academy to learn the basics of acting,” he adds. About his plans as lead actor, he says, “It has been decided long back that my father will direct my debut film as lead actor."
