Gilli Nata | |
|---|---|
| Born | Malavalli Nataraj June 21, 1998 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Known for | Winner of Bigg Boss Kannada (season 12) |
Malavalli Nataraj (born 21 June 1998), more popularly known as Gilli Nata, is an actor and television personality working in Kannada entertainment industry. He began his career working as set assistant and in art departments for films. Gilli's breakthrough came in 2022 with Comedy Khiladigalu season 4 , a humour television reality show, where he finished as the first runner-up. [1] Following this, he featured in the dance reality show, Dance Karnataka Dance and won the Best Entertainer Award. [2] He made his film debut in 2024 with Langoti Man and later featured in a small role in Darshan's The Devil (2025). [3]
Gilli's biggest success came through the reality show Bigg Boss Kannada (season 12) (2025–26), where he emerged as the winner and earned huge fan following. [4] [5]
Gilli was born as Malavalli Nataraj on 21 June 1998 in a humble farmer family in Dadadaapura village of Malavalli Taluk in Mandya district. He completed his schooling in Mandya and later pursued a two-year ITI course. [6] . He migrated to Bengaluru dreaming about making big in entertainment industry. He took up small assignments as a set assistant and worked in art departments for various film projects.
Gilli Nata began gaining public recognition through his participation in Comedy Khiladigalu Season 4 (2022), where he finished as the first runner-up. His natural comedic timing, grounded humour, and strong stage presence were appreciated by both judges and audiences. Following this breakout appearance, he expanded his presence across Kannada television. He went on to participate in Dance Karnataka Dance , where he earned the Best Entertainer Award, demonstrating his versatility beyond stand-up comedy. He later appeared in Bharjari Bachelors , further establishing his identity as an entertainer known for punchy humour and relatability.
In January 2026, Gilli Nata reached a major milestone in his television career by emerging as the winner of Bigg Boss Kannada season 12. The finale aired on January 18, 2026, where he lifted the trophy, winning ₹50 lakh and a Maruti Suzuki car. His grounded personality, humour, and authenticity resonated strongly with viewers throughout the season, making him a fan favourite.
Gilli's first film appearance was in a comedy role in the film Langoti Man (2024). This was followed by small budget films such as Super Hit (2024) and 1st Day 1st Show (2025). His short role in the Prakash directorial and Darshan starrer The Devil was noticed by the audience and critics.
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Note(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Langoti Man | [7] | ||
| 2025 | Super Hit | [8] | ||
| 2025 | 1st Day 1st Show | [9] | ||
| 2025 | The Devil | [10] | ||