Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi turns 66 today on June 26, 2024. (Image: sureshgopi/Instagram)
Suresh Gopi is the first big star from the Malayalam film industry to join the BJP. He has worked in around 250 movies. Gopi won the recent Lok Sabha election from Thrissur in coastal Kerala by a margin of 74,686 votes.
Actor Suresh Gopi is a force to be reckoned with in the Malayalam film industry. He has left an indelible mark in the realms of Indian cinema, television, and politics. Known primarily for his work in Malayalam cinema, the bankable actor is celebrated for his versatile performances across a spectrum of roles, with a particular stronghold in action-packed movies.
His journey in the entertainment industry began in 1986, and since then he has acted in many films, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. The actor, who has acted in more than 250 films, has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films.
Throughout his illustrious career spanning decades, Suresh Gopi has garnered numerous accolades, including a National Award for his 1997 film Kaliyattam. Beyond the silver screen, the Lelam actor has also made significant contributions to television, hosting several popular shows.
In addition to his entertainment career, Suresh Gopi entered the political world in 2016. His foray into politics as a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament (MP), representing Kerala, in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, added another dimension to his public persona.
As the actor turns a year older today, let’s look back at some of his best movies over the years that have etched his presence in everyone’s mind.
Suresh Gopi’s Best Movies
- I (2015)Directed by S Shankar, the 2015 film starred Vikram, Amy Jackson, and Suresh Gopi in lead roles. The Tamil romantic action thriller takes inspiration from tales like Beauty and the Beast and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It revolves around a bodybuilder-turned-supermodel who gets abducted by a deformed hunchback and held captive, while his connection to her and his targets is revealed through a series of flashbacks as he begins his quest for revenge.
- Pathram (1999)Helmed by Joshiy and written by Renji Panicker, Pathram is a 1999 movie that featured Suresh Gopi, Manju Warrier, and NF Varghese. Produced by GP Vijayakumar, the film revolved around a man named Nandagopal, a newly hired associate editor with one of the leading dailies in Kerala Reshmi. The film portrays Suresh as an aggressive and daring person.
- Kaliyattam (1997)His stupendous performance in the National Award-winning movie Kaliyattam showcased his enormous acting talent, making him one of the finest talents in the industry. The 1997 film was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello that featured Suresh Gopi in an intense role as Kannan, a performer who later kills his lady love Thamara after suspecting that she is cheating on him. The movie, which was loved immensely by both audiences and critics alike, still remains a magnificent piece of art.
- Rajaputhran (1996)Directed by Shajoon Kariyal, the Malayalam action-drama Rajaputhran was produced by Dinesh Panicker. It featured actors like Suresh Gopi, Vijayaraghavan, Vikram, Shobana, and Murali in key roles. The plot of this film centres around Anand, a professional wildlife photographer who decides to take revenge against the people who were responsible for his father’s death. The antagonists also took over his father’s company.
- Commissioner (1994)Remember the iconic dialogue, “Edo Mohan Thomasinte… I am Bharath Chandran,” by Suresh Gopi in the 1994 release of Commissioner? This film made the actor an out-and-out messy star in the South film industry. Scripted by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas, the movie saw Suresh Gopi in the role of a dutiful police commissioner, Bharath Chandran, who is actively working to bring down corrupt politicians and smugglers. With a number of punchy dialogues and action sequences, the film emerged as a box-office blockbuster and received immense praise from fans and critics, making the movie a cornerstone in Suresh Gopi’s career.
