 He spent the first 27 years of his acting career in professional drama companies.He donned different roles in the plays of different companies like "Shri Chandramauleshwara Nataka Sabha", "Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali", "Bharatha Lalitha Kala Sangha", "Gunda Joisara Company" of Belur, and Gubbi "Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company".He did not neglect these drama companies even after becoming hugely popular as a film actor.