Failure has never been the end for me: Jagapathi Babu

For Jagapathi Babu, change has been the only constant. After charming audiences as a romantic lead, intimidating them as a villain, and entertaining them on OTT platforms, he’s now stepped into another role — that of a talk show host.

With Jayyammu Nischayammu Raa, the actor has moved to the small screen to bring candid conversations with celebrities.“It’s about having open conversations with people I love,” he says. In a chat with Hyderabad Times, he opened up about the show, the friendships that shaped him, lessons from failures, and his evolving connection with audiences.‘I always wanted to have an open talk with people I love’The show grew out of a personal desire to connect with people meaningfully, he says.

“I always wanted to have an open talk with people I love. That is the whole idea of the show. It’s about victory, about being successful,” he shares. For him, the conversations are less about glamour and more about resilience. “From the moment we are born, life teaches us to fall and rise. Life is like a flight. It takes off, lands, and takes off again.

The key is to keep flying, to survive, and to succeed. Our goal is to spread hope, strength and a positive spirit.”

‘Friendship is the most important thing’Away from television, Jagapathi Babu values the bonds that have shaped his journey. “Friendship matters most, but it’s often the most overlooked quality nowadays. The world has become such that the distance between people has grown, because everybody is doing their own thing,” he says. His long-standing camaraderie with actors like Nagarjuna has been a source of support, and he continues to find joy in connecting with younger actors too.

“Even though I’ve worked with almost everybody, I don’t talk much outside of work. But whenever I do, it feels like renewing or building fresh bonds.”‘Flops taught me to fight harder’The actor has often spoken candidly about setbacks and the lessons they bring. “For me, there’s no such thing as failure. It’s only final when you stop trying, until the last ball is bowled. Every setback is a stepping stone,” he says. Recalling a turning point, he adds, “I was taking all my initial flops lightly and partying whenever there was a flop.

But at one point, one big producer said, ‘You’re totally useless. You will not work in the industry.

’ I wouldn’t call this a failure. That was my success too, because that is when I took up life as a challenge.”‘I use social media on my own terms’Despite being a veteran, Jagapathi Babu has found a new kind of reach through Instagram and YouTube. He points out that his online presence today often resonates more immediately than his film roles. “People instantly connect with what I post, and that kind of direct response is something films don’t always give,” he says. At the same time, he chooses to keep his approach personal. “I don’t follow trends or post for publicity.

I keep it simple, share only what feels natural, and try to keep it positive,” he explains.