Jack as Actor
“What I learned on the streets as a cop made me a better actor.”
Jack Devnarain
Cop/Actor is an unusual combination. Throughout 9 years in the Police Force, Jack managed, to continue acting, while working his beat as a cop. Movie roles during this time included The Ghost and the Darkness, a film by Stephen Hopkins starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, and The Making of the Mahatma, directed by iconic Indian film director Shyam Benegal.
In 2002, Jack swapped his real badge and gun for make believe, when he accepted the role of Rajesh Kumar on the popular daily soap Isidingo. His years on the beat gave him the edge in performing the role with authenticity and subtlety. Through his character’s metamorphosis from cop to businessman and husband in a sea of conflicting emotions, Jack Devnarain has remained one of the viewing public’s favorite characters on the small screen.
Jack’s work on Isidingo garnered many awards through the years, including People Magazine’s Crystal Award for Best Soapie Actor, Favorite Actor award at the You Magazine Spectacular, Best Hero in the People’s Choice Award category of the South African Film and TV Awards (SAFTA) and another SAFTA for Best Supporting Actor.
His prodigious resumè of TV and film roles include On the Couch, Snitch, City Ses’la, Jozi H, Kompleks, High Rollers and a lead role in the action movie, 31 million Reasons, which earned a SAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Feature Film.
Jack takes acting seriously and currently serves as the Actors Representative for Isidingo and as Chairman of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA).