Star Power Runs in the Family: Jagdish and Yug Italiya Shine in Dusshera, Gujarati Cinema’s Latest Sensation
India, 15th November: Gujarati cinema’s latest release, Dusshera, has drawn attention for its socially rooted storyline and its mix of new and familiar faces. Among the the cast are debutant Surat-based father–son duo Jagdish Italiya and Yug Italiya, whose involvement has sparked local interest due to their backgrounds outside the film industry. The film combines contemporary themes with emotional drama, and the addition of non-traditional actors has contributed an unexpected layer to its casting narrative.
Yug, who has previously acted in a feature film, takes on the character of Maru, while Jagdish known in Surat for his entrepreneurial work as well as his involvement in education, singing, and past reality television appearances, appears in the role of the antagonist, Rahu. Their joint appearance marks one of the film’s distinctive talking points, as a father and son debuting in the same film is extremely uncommon
Reflecting on how he joined the project, Jagdish Italiya said, “For me, this was unexpected. They had approached us to cast Yug in their film, but in addition, they offered me the role of Rahu, the antagonist, which I immediately said no to. But Yug convinced me to take the role, very strongly saying that he has a strong belief in the story and the director.”
Jagdish’s decision ultimately shaped one of the film’s central conflicts. His performance as Rahu introduces intensity to the narrative, offering a contrast to his public image in Surat’s cultural circles.
Yug, who portrays Maru, describes the experience as both challenging and formative. “This being only my second feature film, it was an absolute blast shooting it, especially because I got to do it with my dad,” he said. “My character Maru is a very complex, layered character, which I spent a couple of months working on. Once it was time to shoot, it was all about fine-tuning, and the depth to which the director sir has gone into the subject really helped me shape the performance.”
Yug’s approach reflects a deliberate effort to explore the technical and emotional demands of his
role, aligning with the growing trend of younger actors taking on more nuanced characters in regional cinema.
Their familiarity with each other appears to enhance the dynamic in their shared scenes, yet both performances stand on their own merits within the storyline. The duo’s involvement also signals the expanding openness of Gujarati cinema to contributors beyond traditional acting circles. Dusshera is a proud moment for Surat, reflecting the city’s evolving creative footprint and proving that talent, when combined with passion, can transcend industries
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