Lokesh was an Indian stage actor turned film actor, who appeared in Kannada feature films. His wife Girija Lokesh is a film actress and film director. His father was Subbaiah Naidu, who is credited to be first hero of Kannada silent movies.Lokesh made his film debut in the 1958 film Bhakta Prahlada. He had thrice won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor during his career, for Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974), for Parasangada Gendethimma (1978) and for Banker Margayya (1984).