She Started As Child Actress, Quit Acting At 15, Cracked UPSC To Become An IAS Officer

Talent truly knows no boundaries, and for some people, it flows in more ways than one. While many shine in academics or the arts, only a few manage to excel in both. One such inspiring story comes from the South Indian film industry, where a popular child star decided to walk away from fame to serve the nation. The former actress is HS Keerthana, a well-known child artist who captured hearts across Kannada cinema and television. Keerthana began acting at a very young age, sharing screen space with some of the biggest stars in the South. Her expressive performances made her a familiar face in households across Karnataka. She worked in popular daily soaps like Janani, Chiguru and Puttani Agent, among others. Despite being at the peak of her acting career, Keerthana had a different dream. At just 15, she decided to quit acting completely and focus on academics. Her goal was to become a civil servant and make a real difference in people’s lives. After years of hard work, dedication and resilience, Keerthana cracked the prestigious UPSC exam and joined as an Assistant Commissioner. She then served her probationary period for two years and took over the charge as the Assistant Commissioner in Mandya District, Karnataka Reports say she cleared the exam on her sixth attempt in 2020. Before that, she had also cleared the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) examination in 2011. In one of her interviews, she proudly shared that she wears her sixth attempt as a badge of honour. She said, “I wear my 6th ATTEMPT as a badge because that shows my perseverance and passion towards clearing this exam.” Interestingly, it was Keerthana’s father’s wish to see her become an IAS officer, and the former actress didn’t rest until she made it come true. Now, she is enjoying a quiet life away from screens, proudly serving the nation. Her story is a beautiful reminder that hard work always pays off.