Bheeman Raghu

Beyond acting, he has also been involved in politics and film direction. In 2016, Reghu contested the Kerala Legislative Assembly election as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pathanapuram constituency, finishing in third place. In 2023, Reghu quit the BJP and joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM). He made his directorial debut with Chaana (2023).

• Name — Bheeman Reghu • Birth Name — Reghu Damodharan • Birthplace — Perunna, Changanacherry, Travancore–Cochin, India • Other Names — Bheeman Raghu, Reghuvera, Nilppan • Occupation — * Actor • police officer • Years Active — 1981–present • Education — University of Kerala (LLB) • Political Party — Communist Party of India (Marxist) (since 2023) • Other Party — * Indian National Congress (before 2016) • Bharatiya Janata Party (2016–2023) • Children — 3

Reghu, originally named Reghu Damodharan, was born in Puzhavathu, Changanassery, in Kottayam district in the former Travancore–Cochin state. He was born to K. P. Damodaran Nair, a former Municipal Commissioner, and Thankamma. He has a sister, Vasundhara Devi. His early education took place at St. Stephen's School, Pathanapuram. During 1970–71, while studying at Sanatana Dharma College in Alappuzha, he was part of the college weightlifting team. He later attended University College Thiruvananthapuram, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. He subsequently pursued an LLB degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Reghu served as a sub-inspector in the Kerala Police. He made his acting debut in a leading role in the Malayalam film Bheeman in 1982, portraying a character who resembled the late actor Jayan. Since then, he has been popularly known by the moniker "Bheeman". Over the course of his career, he has acted in more than 400 films. Although he is primarily known for his antagonistic roles, he has also appeared in comedic roles in several films. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with Chaana, in which he also starred. Written by Aji Aylara, the story centers on a Tamil man from Tenkasi who travels to Kerala in search of a livelihood as a knife sharpener. The film was released theatrically on 17 March 2023.

Before 2016, Reghu was an active supporter of the Indian National Congress (INC) and campaigned for several Congress candidates in the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections. After joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2016, he unsuccessfully contested the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election as the BJP candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Pathanapuram constituency. He contested against fellow actors K. B. Ganesh Kumar of the Kerala Congress (B) representing the LDF and Jagadish of the Indian National Congress representing the UDF. He finished third with 11,700 votes. In 2023, Reghu quit the BJP and joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Bheeman Reghu married Sudha Reghu. The couple have three children.

• Year — Title — Role — Channel • 2004 – 2005 — Kadamattathu Kathanar — Ittan Pada Nair — Asianet • 2005 — Vikramadithyan — Needivakyan — Asianet • 2016 — Ugram Ujjwalam Season 2 — Himself — Mazhavil Manorama • 2018 — Urvashi Theatres — Himself — Asianet • 2021 — Koodevide — Komban — Asianet • 2023 — Gouri Shankaram — DYSP Somashekharan — Asianet

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1981 — Grihalakshmi • Pinneyum Pookkunna Kaadu • Kaahalam • 1982 — Aa Divasam • Thadakam • Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam — Jacob • Bheeman — First film as hero • 1983 — Thimingalam • Hello Madras Girl • Oru Maadapraavinte Kadha • Asthram • Rathilayam • Kodumkattu • Asuran • Ponthooval • 1984 — Thirakkil Alppa Samayam — Bhargavan • Nethavu • Raajavembaala — Antony • Nishedi — Vimal/Vinod • Rakshassu — Raghu • Bullet • Bheekaran • Ivide Ingane — Sugunan • Itha Innu Muthal — Rajkumar • 1985 — Paara • Kiratham — Radhakrishnan • Oru Naal Innoru Naal — Koyakutti • Kannaaram Pothippothi — Vaasu • Sammelanam • Mukhyamanthri — Jamal • Shatru — Johny • Janakeeya Kodathi — Raveendran • 1986 — Sakhavu • Pidikittapulli • Niramulla Raavukal • Ardha Raathri • Railway Cross • Karinagam • Kaala Rathri • 1987 — Dheeran • Neeyallengil Njan — Tiger Ramu • Itha Samayamayi • Ithrayum Kaalam • 1988 — 1921 — Historical character • Janma Shatru — Raghu • Onninu Purake Mattonnu • Karate Girls • Theruvu Narthaki — Muraleedharan • Bheekaran — Rajan • Mukthi — Police officer • 1989 — Puthiya Karukkal — Robert • Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha — Aringodar's Sishyan • Mrigaya — Kunjachan • 1990 — Randam Varavu — Vasu • Arhatha — Siddique • Midhya — Varghese • Samrajyam — Alexander's right-hand man • Kalikkalam — Jose • 1991 — Godfather — Premachandran • Ente Sooryaputhrikku — Ravi • Advaitham • Inspector Balram — D'cruz Perera • Master Plan • Adayalam — Raju • Agni Nilavu — Karinjan • Neelagiri — Chandru • 1992 — Neelakurukkan • Police Diary • Kizhakkan Pathrose • Kauravar — Ramayyan • Mahanagaram — Padmanabhan • 1993 — Vietnam Colony — Irumpu John • Janam — Feroz • Devasuram — Kallan Chacko • 1994 — Gentleman Security — Cruz • Kadal • Rudraksham — Thankachan • Commissioner — Wilfred Vincent Bastin • 1995 — Arabikadaloram — Karlose • Street • Prayikkara Pappan • Spadikam — SI Somasekharan Pillai • 1996 — Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu • Hitlist — Vikram • Dominic Presentation — Amareshan • 1997 — Kaduva Thoma • Bhoopathi • Aaraam Thampuran — Apputty Nambiar • Varnapakittu — SI Damodaran Nair • 1998 — Kalapam — Karippayi Antony • Magician Mahendralal from Delhi — Kumar • 1999 — James Bond — Haajiyar • Captain — Rengan • FIR — Chakrapani, As a Drama Director • Aayiram Meni — Maramadi Mammachan • 2000 — Narasimham — C. I. Sankaranarayanan • Valliettan — Nedungadi • India Gate • Priyankari • Rapid Action Force — Tyson John • Mark Antony — Kariyachan • 2001 — Chitrathoonukal • Layam • Nariman — Musthafa Kamal • 2002 — Ee Nadu Innale Vare — Ana Kasim • Suvarna Mohangal • Phantom — Irachi Pranchi • Chathurangam — Hakkim • 2004 — Thudakkam — A.S.I. Prushothaman • Vajram — Poovalan • 2005 — Chandrolsavam — Eangapara Peethambaran • Thaskara Veeran — Kargil Narayanan • Ben Johnson — Bheeman Raghu • Udayon — Police officer • Naran — Keeri Raghavan • Rajamanikyam — Quintal' Varkey • 2006 — Madhuchandralekha — Arumugham • Thuruppu Gulan — Tipper Vasu • Chacko Randaaman — Chenkannan Rajan • Prajapathi — SP Ramachandran • Highway Police • Red Salute — Marthandan Velayudhan • Raashtram — Koshi • Lion — DYSP Anantharaghavan • Chinthamani Kolacase — David Rajarathnam • Chess — DYSP Koshi • The Don — Sikandar • Kanaka Simhasanam — Ramakrishnan • 2007 — Romeoo — Avaran • Chotta Mumbai — CI Alex • Black Cat — Vikram Dharma • Kaakki — DIG • Athishayan — Commissioner Shanmughan • Hallo — Batheri Bappu • Nasrani — Rajeevan • 2008 — Jubilee — Aravukaran Ali • Kabadi Kabadi — Chitrangathan • Kanal Kannaadi • Sound of Boot — ADGP Thomas Sebastian • 2009 — Seetha Kalyanam — Usilampatti Vasu • Ee Pattanathil Bhootham — Circus master • Hailesa — Valayar Maniyappan • Kappal Muthalaali — Parushuraman • Loudspeaker — Madhavan Nair • Duplicate — Blade Dasappan • 2010 — Nalla Pattukare — Dance teacher • Thaskara Lahala — Idiyan George • Aakaasha Yaathra • Njaan Sanchaari • Oru Small Family — Hercules • Best of Luck — Bhasi • Kanyakumari Express • 2011 — Janapriyan • Manushya Mrugam • Teja Bhai & Family — Johny • 2012 — Theruvu Nakshatrangal • Madirasi • Naughty Professor • 2013 — My Fan Ramu • Housefull — Benchamin Joseph • For Sale — Pothu Swami • 2014 — Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil • On The Way • RajadhiRaja — DySP Paulose Pothen • Nagara Varidhi Naduvil Njan • Malayalakkara Residency • 2019 — Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel — Irumbu Babu • Mera Naam Shaji • Thenkashikattu • Kuttymama • Mr. Pavanayi 99.99 • Visudha Pusthakam • Oru Mass Katha Veendum • 2020 — Zebra Varakal • 2021 — Pidikittapulli • 2022 — P. K. Rosy • 2023 — Prema Deshapu Yuvarani • Orapara Kalyana Vishesham • Chaana • 2024 — Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe • Bad Boyz • 2026 — Law and Order

• Year — Film — Role — Language — Notes • 1989 — Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai — Tamil • 1990 — Idu Saadhya — Kannada — Dubbed in Malayalam as 48 Manikkoor • 1991 — Karpoora Mullai — Ravi — Tamil