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Devi Khajishvili

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Devi Khajishvili
Born (1991-01-09) January 9, 1991 (age 33)
Batumi, Georgia
Alma materTexas Tech University
OccupationActor • Musician • Model • Athlete
Years active2006- Present
Parent(s)Nodar Khajishvili, Nana Khajishvili
RelativesElene Khajishvili, Sabina Khajishvili
AwardsGold Medal - World Shotokan Championship Cyprus, Turkey, 2004 Silver Medal - 8th World Championship, Tokyo, Japan, 2007 Gold Medal - World Championship, Crawley, England, 2008.

Devi Khajishvili (Georgian: დევი ხაჯიშვილი) also known as Devi K. is a Georgian actor, musician and model born in Batumi, Georgia on 9 January 1991.

Early life and career

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Khajishvili was born to the family of Nodar Khajishvili, the president[1] of the World Shotokan Karate-Do Federation[2] in Georgia and Nana Khajishvili a piano teacher. He is of Georgian descent from his paternal side and Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish and Iranian from his maternal grandparents. Since he was six years old, he trained in Shotokan Karate under his father's mentorship, and later after competing in numerous national and international tournaments, became a two time World Champion and earned his second degree Black Belt.[3] In his late teens, he was recruited by the national Shotokan Karate Team composed of top athletes who traveled the world competing and representing their country. In 2008, he was the youngest person included in a list of the most successful athletes of Georgia.[3]

Additionally, he earned a Black Belt in Judo, placed third in the Men's National Artistic Gymnastics Competition and competed in the 60 m, 100 m and 200 m distances in Georgian National Track and Field meets.

Education

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In 2014, Khajishvili graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors in Political Science[4] and moved to Washington D.C. to work for Congressman Beto O'Rourke.[5][6] While working in Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s office, Devi Khajishvili built ties with multiple high-ranking government officials of his native country, like the former Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, former Georgian Ambassador to the United States Archil Gegeshidze, and the founder of the Georgian Labour Party Shalva Natelashvili.

Khajishvili then pursued Master of Science in International Affairs[7][8] and worked as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in Public Policy.[9] In 2024, as a PhD candidate in History at Texas Tech University, Khajishvili was awarded the prestigious Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to support one year of research in Georgia.[10] His research focuses on Georgia’s tea history during the Soviet era and its role in shaping the country’s post-Soviet identity.

Khajishvili speaks five languages; Georgian, Russian, French, Spanish and English.[11]

Film and stage

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Devi Khajishvili performs The Knight in the Panther's Skin

Khajishvili performed as a dancer with the Georgian National Dance Ensemble for seven years, with whom he toured Europe and did shows nationally and internationally. After moving to the United States, he staged numerous dance performances showcasing Georgian culture to Western audiences. His most notable work centered around the play The Knight in the Panther's Skin by Shota Rustaveli. His talent for dancing was later noticed by a Time Warner advertising director who cast him in a commercial for Mercedes Benz where he performed the Tango.

Khajishvili's career in the United States took off when he was discovered by well known Los Angeles based photographer Michael Stokes who featured him as a model in one of his books Bare Strength in 2014.[12] Author Jen Frederick also used one of Michael Stokes photos of Devi Khajishvili as the book cover for her USA Today best selling book Jock Blocked in 2016.[13] Next Devi Khajishvili moved into acting co-starring with Richard Riehle in the 2017 romantic-comedy You Have a Nice Flight.[14] Due to Khajishvili's martial arts background he was invited to train with Wesley Snipes who helped to educate Khajishvili in stage combat. Khajishvili's talents for action roles led to him being cast as a lead role in a new television pilot Wednesday The Film where he plays the role of a member of an elite team of the Russian Special Forces. Wednesday The Film has begun filming in Los Angeles and is scheduled to continue with some filming to be done in Georgia.

In 2017, DEL Records a Latin independent entertainment company headquartered in Los Angeles cast Khajishvili as the lead actor in a music video by Los Del Arroyo - Por Si Te Interesa.

Music

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Devi K., the musical alias of Devi Khajishvili, made his debut in the music scene with his first album, “The Runaway Train,” on 22 February 2020. [15] Characterized by its acoustic guitar arrangements and rooted in the singer-songwriter genre, this album marked his entry into the industry. However, since that initial release, Devi K. has ventured into heavier music styles, transitioning into genres like heavy metal and rock.

One of Devi K.’s notable deviations was a passion project in the form of a Spanish reggaeton song titled “Una Asesina.” Sung in Spanish, this track was not only a musical shift but also featured a music video shot in Los Angeles, California, involving a well-known collaborator from Colombia. This endeavor highlighted his ability to cross cultural and musical boundaries.

In addition to his genre-spanning works, Devi K. released a profoundly personal track named “300 Aragvians,” an homage to Georgian warriors. This song pays tribute to the 300 Georgians who defended Tbilisi from Persian forces in the 1795, celebrating his Georgian heritage and the valor of his ancestors. Each of Devi K.’s songs is self-written, produced, and recorded, underscoring his comprehensive involvement in his music. "Devi K. - Music on Spotify". Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 2023-11-30.

Further enriching his portfolio, Devi also released a music video for the song “Drum Beat,” directed by Donovan Clark. Described as a blend between a music video and a short film, it featured dynamic, cinematic elements that added depth to his musical expression, affirming Devi K.’s innovative approach to his music and visual presentations.

References

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  1. ^ "კორპორაციების საძიებო ხელსაწყო- საერთაშორისო გამჭვირვალობა-საქართველო". Companyinfo.ge. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  2. ^ "Official World Shotokan". www.world-shotokan.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  3. ^ a b "ერთხელ-ამერიკაში… ანუ როგორ აღმოჩნდა ბათუმელი დევი ხაჯიშვილი ჰოლივუდში". გაზეთი აჭარა (in Georgian). Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  4. ^ "Texas Tech University" (PDF). Depts.ttu.edu. May 2014. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  5. ^ Writer, Amy Cunningham Staff. "Congressional intern meets Georgian officials". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  6. ^ "040414". issuu. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  7. ^ "Alumni US | Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas Area". alumnius.net. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  8. ^ "Texas Tech University" (PDF). Depts.ttu.edu. 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  9. ^ "Vitae". Vitae, the online career hub for higher ed. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  10. ^ "History Doctoral Student Receives Fulbright-Hays Award". Texas Tech University. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  11. ^ Hess, Melanie. "Student's Goal to Restore Home Country Aided by Faculty | May | 2012 | Texas Tech Today | TTU". today.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  12. ^ Stokes, Michael (2014-10-30). Bare Strength. Berlin: Bruno Gmuender. ISBN 9783867877688.
  13. ^ Frederick, Jen. Jockblocked: A Novel. Retrieved 2017-01-29 – via Amazon.com.
  14. ^ Riehle, Richard; Sharp, Keesha; Kholafai, Lee; Marie, Glorinda (2000-01-01), You Have a Nice Flight, retrieved 2017-01-26
  15. ^ "Devi K." Spotify. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
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