Babu Antony

Babu Antony
Babu Antony in the film Karinkunnam 6'S
Born (1966-02-22) 22 February 1966 (age 58)
EducationSIBM Pune (MBA)
OccupationActor
Years active1985–present
SpouseEvgeniya Antony
Children2
RelativesAntony Thekkek (brother)
Websitebabuantony.com

Babu Antony (born 22 February 1966) is an Indian-American actor and martial artist, who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in several Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sinhalese, Hindi and English films. He started his career doing antagonistic roles and progressed to supporting and leading roles as well. Babu owns a mixed martial art academy in Houston.[1]

He made his debut in Bharathan's Chilampu (1986). His career highlights include Vaishali (1988), Aparahnam (1991) and Uppukandam Brothers (1993).[2]

Early life

He was born to T.J. Antony and Mariyam Antony in Ponkunnam, Kerala, India. He was educated in Sacred Heart High School, Government Boys High School and St. Dominic's High School Kanjirappally. He graduated in English literature from Pune. He has a master's degree in Business Administration in Human resources from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He worked as a cinematographer in Film and Television Institute of India, Pune which led to his entry into the film industry.[3] He has a Fifth Dan Black Belt in martial arts.

Career

Early in his career, he started making appearances in roles like Chilambu, Mizhineerppoovukal (1986) in Malayalam. He made a mark through Fazil's 1986 thriller Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal. The film was remade into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Babu reprised his role in all five versions. He made his debut by playing an antagonist in Bharathan's Chilambu (1987).

In 1987, he appeared for its debut in Tamil cinema with Sathyaraj in Poovizhi Vasalile and then Makkal En Pakkam. Later with Kamal Haasan's Vrutham (1987) in Malayalam and Per Sollum Pillai in Tamil. With Nizhalgal Ravi, he acted in a horror film, Veendum Lisa which were all commercial successes. He also played with Chiranjeevi in Pasivadi Pranam and Jebu Donga which was later a hit at the box office. He started his career as a villain and later on featured in leading roles with the image of an angry young man.

His debut film in Kannada was Shanti Kranti (1991). His movies like Aparahnam (1991), Gandhari (1993), Rajadhani (1994), Bharanakoodam (1994), Chantha (1995), Special Squad (1995) and Indian Military Intelligence (1995) helped him to build a large audience and fan following for him. Apart from these, he has worked as many different characters such as an ex-terrorist role in Aparahnam, a king's role in Vaishali (1988), an impecunious in Sayahnam (2000). Uppukandam Brothers (1993) gave a breakthrough for Babu's career in starring roles.[4]

He made his debut in Hindi cine-industry with the movie Hatya in 1988. He is also in Telugu films including Lorry Driver (1990), Sathruvu (1991) and Nippu Ravva (1993). His debut movies in English Made in USA (2005) and Leader (2009) in Sinhala. His other Tamil hits were Anjali (1990), Surieyan (1992), Airport (1993), Attahasam (2004), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), Kanchana (2011), Aadhi-Bhagavan (2013), Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014), Kaaka Muttai (2015), Adanga Maru (2018), Ponniyin Selvan (2022), Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023) and Leo (2023).

Personal life

He is married to Evgeniya Antony, who is a Russian American. The couple has two sons, Arthur Antony and Alex Antony. He trains his sons in martial arts and Arthur got his 1st Dan Black Belt in MMA.[5]

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Language Notes
1986 Chilambu Supporting actor Malayalam Debut film
Mizhineerppoovukal Richard's friend
Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal Renji
Pranamam Ajith
1987 Poovizhi Vasalile Ranjith Tamil
Jaithra Yaathra Malayalam
Makkal En Pakkam Kidnapper Tamil
Vrutham Freddy Malayalam
Per Sollum Pillai Tamil
Pasivadi Pranam Ranjith Telugu
Veendum Lisa John Fernandes Malayalam
My Dear Lisa Tamil
Jebu Donga Mike Telugu
1988 Hatya Ranjit Hindi
Vaisali Lomapadhan Malayalam
Trinetrudu Telugu
Moonnam Mura Antony Malayalam
1989 New Year Robert
Douthyam Gang Leader
Antharjanam Vishnu Namboothiri
The News Victor George
Carnivel James
Jagratha Babu
Adavilo Abhimanyudu Max Telugu
1990 Jawani Ki Jalan Hindi
Kottayam Kunjachan Psycho Jimmy Malayalam
Randam Varavu Customs Officer Stephen
Anjali Dharma Tamil
Magaadu Telugu
Vyooham Malayalam
Lorry Driver Seenu Telugu
1991 Sathruvu Jorge
Chaitanya Thug
Koodikazhcha Williams Malayalam
Aparaahnam Nandakumar
Shanti Kranti Bob Kannada
Shanti Kranti Telugu
Nattukku Oru Nallavan Tamil
Shanti Kranti Hindi
Kuttapathram Vicky Malayalam
Chakravarthy Edwin
1992 Kauravar Hamsa
Kavacham
Kasarkode Khaderbai Kasim Bhai
Ravivarma Kannada
Ezhara Ponnana Charlie Malayalam
Surieyan Micky Tamil
Thirumathi Palanisamy
Naadody Jackson Malayalam
1993 Nippu Ravva Dasu Telugu
Gandhari Vishnu Malayalam
Uppukandam Brothers Uppukandam Sevichan Malayalam
I Love India Tamil
Mafia Chandra Gowda Malayalam
Airport Tamil
1994 Kadal Bapooty Malayalam
Napoleon Abu Salim
Rajadhani Abbas Amanulla Khan
Kambolam Tharakandam Daniel / Dany
Dadha Bharathan
Bharanakoodam Dany
1995 Street Guruji
Boxer Jimmy Cherian
Rajakeeyam Durga Dathan
Chantha Sulthan
Special Squad Siby Matthew
Arabia Akbar Ali
Indian Military Intelligence Imran Khan
1996 Nethaji Baba Tamil
1997 Hitler Brothers Narendran Malayalam
Yuvasakthi Kannada
Pagaivan Dharman's brother Tamil
1998 Gloria Fernandes from USA Fernandes Malayalam
1999 Jananaayakan Rajmohan
Devadasi
Captain Ranger Haridas
2000 Shayanam
2001 Sravu Bawa
Nayak: The Real Hero Sniper Hindi
Uthaman Pulimuttathu Sunny Thomas Malayalam
Unnathangalil Thug Cameo appearance
2002 Thandavam Sufi
2004 Campus Sathya's brother Tamil
Shambu Malayalam
Vajram Paulson Williams
Black Govind Chengappa IPS
Attahasam Manthiram Tamil
Nothing but Life Omar Malayalam
2005 Made in USA Omar English
2006 Highway Police Mammad Malayalam
2008 Twenty:20 Vikram Bhai
Ekaloveyudu Bhakta Telugu
Shambhu Adisheshan Malayalam
2009 Leader Raghuwaran / Kimbulawala Soththi Siran Sinhala
Thirunakkara Perumal Job Malayalam
2010 Thathwamasi Parashurama
Yugapurushan Ayyankali
Sufi Paranja Katha Sufi
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Joseph (Jessie's father) Tamil
Ye Maaya Chesave Joseph (Jessie's father) Telugu Cameo appearance
9 KK Road Devdas Adiyodi Malayalam
Kanyakumari Express Ranjan Philip
Again Kasargod Khader Bhai Kasargod Kasim Bhai
2011 Christian Brothers Captain Rasheed Rahman
Uppukandam Brothers: Back in Action Uppukandam Sevichan
Rowthiram Priya's father Tamil
Kanchana Basheer Bhai
2012 Ekk Deewana Tha Advocate Joseph (Jessie's father) Hindi
Cobra Isaac Malayalam
Grandmaster Victor Rosetti
Kalpana Akbar Bhai Kannada
2013 Aadhi Bhagavan Sam Tamil
Buddy Chandran Singh Malayalam
Idukki Gold Antony
2014 Kaaka Muttai Shiva Chidambaram Tamil
Villali Veeran Malayalam
Homely Meals Himself
Kaaviya Thalaivan Zamindar Tamil
2016 Krishnashtami Telugu
Moonam Naal Njayarazhcha Malayalam
Karinkunnam 6's Douglas
2017 Ezra Rabbi David Benyamin [6]
Zacharia Pothen Jeevichirippundu Chami
2018 Kayamkulam Kochunni Thangal
Adanga Maru Sanjay Tamil
2019 Mikhael John Malayalam Cameo appearance
Bullets Blades and Blood English
2022 The Great Escape Bob Christo Malayalam
Headmaster
Neepa
Ponniyin Selvan: I Rashtrakuta King Khottiga Tamil
2023 Madanolsavam Madanan Manjakkaaran Malayalam [7]
Ponniyin Selvan: II Rashrakuta King Khottiga Tamil
RDX: Robert Dony Xavier Antony Aashan Malayalam
Leo Antony's henchman Tamil [8]
2024 DNA DCP Raja Mohammed Malayalam Cameo appearance[9]
Bad Boyz [10]
Oru Jaathi Jathakam TBA [11]
Bazooka TBA [12]

References

  1. ^ Vijayakumar, Sindhu (12 February 2018). "Even a villain should have a character, which people can remember: Babu Antony". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Exclusive biography of #BabuAntony and on his life".
  3. ^ "On Record with T.N.Gopakumar". asianetnews. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ^ Mathews, Anna. "Babu Antony shares bittersweet memory of favourite role". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Babu Antony on training his sons in martial arts". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ Kannan, Arathi (10 February 2017). "Ezra review: Almost 'dybbuk'ed, but not debunked". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. ^ "New single from Suraj Venjaramoodu's Madanolsavam out". Cinema Express. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Babu Antony in awe of Vijay's humbleness in 'Leo' sets". The Times of India. 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ Features, C. E. (11 May 2024). "Raai Laxmi's DNA gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  10. ^ Features, C. E. (9 September 2024). "Ghora Ghora Rajadhi Raja song from Bad Boyz out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Vineeth Srinivasan's Oru Jathi Jathakam Goes On Floors In Kochi". News18. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  12. ^ Features, C. E. (22 March 2024). "It's a wrap for Mammootty's Bazooka". Cinema Express. Retrieved 19 May 2024.