Reghu Damodharan (born 6 October 1953), better known by his stage name Bheeman Reghu and political Pseudonym Reghu Vera, is an Indian actor and retired police officer. He served as a sub-inspector in the Kerala Police before pursuing a career in cinema. Over the course of more than four decades, he has appeared in over 400 films, primarily in Malayalam cinema. While he is mostly known for his antagonistic roles, he has also taken on comedic roles on occasion. In addition to acting, Reghu has also ventured into politics and film direction.
Bheeman Raghu | |
|---|---|
 Raghu at an event in 2013 | |
| Born | Reghu Damodharan[1] 6 October 1953 |
| Other names | Bheeman Raghu |
| Alma mater | University of Kerala (LLB) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Political party | Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2023- Present) |
| Other political affiliations | Indian National Congress (2014-2016),Bharatiya Janata Party (2016-2023) |
| Spouse | Sudha Reghu (m. 1978) |
| Children | 3 |
Raghu contested unsuccessfully in the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pathanapuram constituency, securing third place. In 2023, Raghu quit BJP and joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM). He made his directorial debut with Chaana (2023).
Early life
Reghu, originally named Reghu Damodharan[2] was born on 6 October 1953[citation needed] at Puzhavathu, Changanassery in Kottayam district in the former Travancore–Cochin state. He was born to K. P. Damodaran Nair, former Municipal Commissioner, and Thankamma. He has a sister.[3] 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.[3] He then went to University College Thiruvananthapuram, where he graduated with Bachelor of Science (BSc).[2] Later, he pursued LLB from Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram.[4]
Career
Reghu was as a sub-inspector in the Kerala Police. He made his debut in a leading role in the Malayalam film Bheeman in 1982, where he portrayed a character who resembled the late actor Jayan. Since then, he has been recognized by the moniker "Bheeman". Following that, he has acted in more than 400 films. He is mostly known for his antagonistic roles, he has appeared in comedic characters in some films.[5][6][7]
In 2023, he made his directorial debut with Chaana, starring himself. Written by Aji Aylara, the story centers on a Tamil man hailing from Tenkasi who journeys to Kerala in pursuit of a livelihood as a knife sharpener. The film was released in theatres on 17 March 2023.[8]
Politics
Before 2016, he is an active supporter of Indian National Congress (INC) he campaigned for many Congress candidates in Kerala assembly elections. After joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2016,in the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, he contested unsuccessfully as a candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Pathanapuram constituency. He contested against his fellow actors K. B. Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress (B), LDF) and Jagadish (Indian National Congress, UDF).[9] He came third with 11,700 votes.[1] In 2023, Raghu quit BJP and joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist).[10]
Personal life
Bheeman Raghu married Sudha Reghu[11] on 18 January 1978.[citation needed] The couple have three children.[3]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Grihalakshmi | ||
| 1981 | Pinneyum Pookkunna Kaadu | ||
| 1981 | Kaahalam | ||
| 1982 | Aa Divasam | ||
| 1982 | Thadakam | ||
| 1982 | Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam | Jacob | |
| 1982 | Bheeman | Bheeman Reghu | First film as hero |
| 1983 | Thimingalam | ||
| 1983 | Hello Madras Girl | ||
| 1983 | Oru Maadapraavinte Kadha | ||
| 1983 | Asthram | ||
| 1983 | Rathilayam | ||
| 1983 | Kodumkattu | ||
| 1983 | Asuran | ||
| 1983 | Ponthooval | ||
| 1984 | Thirakkil Alppa Samayam | Bhargavan | |
| 1984 | Nethavu | ||
| 1984 | Raajavembaala | ||
| 1984 | Nishedi | Vimal/Vinod | |
| 1984 | Rakshassu | Raghu | |
| 1984 | Bullet | ||
| 1984 | Bheekaran | ||
| 1984 | Ivide Ingane | Sugunan | |
| 1984 | Itha Innu Muthal | Rajkumar | |
| 1985 | Paara | ||
| 1985 | Kiratham | Radhakrishnan | |
| 1985 | Oru Naal Innoru Naal | Koyakutti | |
| 1985 | Kannaaram Pothippothi | Vaasu | |
| 1985 | Sammelanam | ||
| 1985 | Mukhyamanthri | Jamal | |
| 1985 | Shatru | Johny | |
| 1985 | Janakeeya Kodathi | Raveendran | |
| 1986 | Sakhavu | ||
| 1986 | Pidikittapulli | ||
| 1986 | Niramulla Raavukal | ||
| 1986 | Ardha Raathri | ||
| 1986 | Railway Cross | ||
| 1986 | Karinagam | ||
| 1986 | Kaala Rathri | ||
| 1987 | Dheeran | ||
| 1987 | Neeyallengil Njan | Tiger Ramu | |
| 1987 | Itha Samayamayi | ||
| 1987 | Ithrayum Kaalam | ||
| 1988 | 1921 | Historical character | |
| 1988 | Janma Shatru | Raghu | |
| 1988 | Onninu Purake Mattonnu | ||
| 1988 | Karate Girls | ||
| 1988 | Theruvu Narthaki | Muraleedharan | |
| 1988 | Bheekaran | Rajan | |
| 1988 | Mukthi | Police officer | |
| 1989 | Puthiya Karukkal | Robert | |
| 1989 | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha | Aringodar's Sishyan | |
| 1989 | Mrigaya | Kunjachan | |
| 1990 | Randam Varavu | Vasu | |
| 1990 | Qatil Jawani | As Bheeman Reghu | |
| 1990 | Idu Saadhya | Dubbed to Malayalam as 48 Manikkoor | |
| 1990 | Arhatha | Siddique | |
| 1990 | Midhya | Varghese | |
| 1990 | Samrajyam | Alexander's right-hand man | |
| 1990 | Kalikkalam | Jose | |
| 1991 | Godfather | Premachandran | |
| 1991 | Ente Sooryaputhrikku | Ravi | |
| 1991 | Advaitham | ||
| 1991 | Inspector Balram | D'cruz Perera | |
| 1991 | Master Plan | ||
| 1991 | Adayalam | Raju | |
| 1991 | Agni Nilavu | Karinjan | |
| 1991 | Neelagiri | Chandru | |
| 1991 | Karpoora Mullai | Ravi | Tamil film |
| 1992 | Neelakurukkan | ||
| 1992 | Police Diary | ||
| 1992 | Kizhakkan Pathrose | ||
| 1992 | Kauravar | Ramayyan | |
| 1992 | Mahanagaram | Padmanabhan | |
| 1993 | Vietnam Colony | Irumpu John | |
| 1993 | Janam | Feroz | |
| 1993 | Devasuram | Kallan Chacko | |
| 1994 | Gentleman Security | Cruz | |
| 1994 | Kadal | ||
| 1994 | Rudraksham | Thankachan | |
| 1994 | Commissioner | Wilfred Vincent Bastin | |
| 1995 | Arabikadaloram | Karlose | |
| 1995 | Street | ||
| 1995 | Prayikkara Pappan | ||
| 1995 | Spadikam | SI Somasekharan Pillai | |
| 1996 | Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu | ||
| 1996 | Hitlist | Vikram | |
| 1996 | Dominic Presentation | Amareshan | |
| 1997 | Kaduva Thoma | ||
| 1997 | Bhoopathi | ||
| 1997 | Aaraam Thampuran | Apputty Nambiar | |
| 1997 | Varnapakittu | SI Damodaran Nair | |
| 1998 | Kalapam | Karippayi Antony | |
| 1998 | Magician Mahendralal from Delhi | Kumar | |
| 1999 | James Bond | Haajiyar | |
| 1999 | Captain | Rengan | |
| 1999 | FIR | Chakrapani, As a Drama Director | |
| 1999 | Aayiram Meni | Maramadi Mammachan | |
| 2000 | Narasimham | C. I. Sankaranarayanan | |
| 2000 | Valliettan | Nedungadi | |
| 2000 | India Gate | ||
| 2000 | Priyankari | ||
| 2000 | Rapid Action Force | Tyson John | |
| 2000 | Mark Antony | Kariyachan | |
| 2001 | Chitrathoonukal | ||
| 2001 | Layam | ||
| 2001 | Nariman | Musthafa Kaimal | |
| 2002 | Ee Nadu Innalevare | Ana Kasim | |
| 2002 | Suvarna Mohangal | ||
| 2002 | Phantom | Irachi Pranchi | |
| 2002 | Chathurangam | Hakkim | |
| 2004 | Thudakkam | A.S.I. Prushothaman | |
| 2004 | Vajram | Poovalan | |
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | Eangapara Peethambaran | |
| 2005 | Thaskara Veeran | Kargil Narayanan | |
| 2005 | Ben Johnson | Bheeman Raghu | |
| 2005 | Udayon | Police officer | |
| 2005 | Naran | Keeri Raghavan | |
| 2005 | Rajamanikyam | Quintal' Varkey | |
| 2006 | Madhuchandralekha | Arumugham | |
| 2006 | Thuruppu Gulan | Tipper Vasu | |
| 2006 | Chacko Randaaman | Chenkannan Rajan | |
| 2006 | Prajapathi | SP Ramachandran | |
| 2006 | Highway Police | ||
| 2006 | Lakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Red Salute | Marthandan Velayudhan | |
| 2006 | Raashtram | Koshi | |
| 2006 | Lion | DYSP Anantharaghavan | |
| 2006 | Chinthamani Kolacase | David Rajarathnam | |
| 2006 | Chess | DYSP Koshi | |
| 2006 | The Don | Sikandar | |
| 2006 | Kanaka Simhasanam | Ramakrishnan | |
| 2007 | Romeoo | Avaran | |
| 2007 | Chotta Mumbai | CI Alex | |
| 2007 | Black Cat | Vikram Dharma | |
| 2007 | Kaakki | DIG | |
| 2007 | Athishayan | Commissioner Shanmughan | |
| 2007 | Hallo | Batheri Bappu | |
| 2007 | Nasrani | Rajeevan | |
| 2008 | Jubilee | Aravukaran Ali | |
| 2008 | Kabadi Kabadi | Chitrangathan | |
| 2008 | Kanal Kannaadi | ||
| 2008 | Sound of Boot | ADGP Thomas Sebastian | |
| 2009 | Seetha Kalyanam | Usilampatti Vasu | |
| 2009 | Ee Pattanathil Bhootham | Circus master | |
| 2009 | Hailesa | Valayar Maniyappan | |
| 2009 | Kappal Muthalaali | Parushuraman | |
| 2009 | Loudspeaker | Madhavan Nair | |
| 2009 | Duplicate | Blade Dasappan | |
| 2010 | Nalla Pattukare | Dance teacher | |
| 2010 | Thaskara Lahala | Idiyan George | |
| 2010 | Aakaasha Yaathra | ||
| 2010 | Njaan Sanchaari | ||
| 2010 | Oru Small Family | Hercules | |
| 2010 | Best of Luck | Bhasi | |
| 2010 | Kanyakumari Express | ||
| 2011 | Janapriyan | ||
| 2011 | Manushya Mrugam | ||
| 2011 | Teja Bhai & Family | Johny | |
| 2012 | Theruvu Nakshatrangal | ||
| 2012 | Madirasi | ||
| 2012 | Naughty Professor | ||
| 2013 | My Fan Ramu | ||
| 2013 | Housefull | Benchamin Joseph | |
| 2013 | For Sale | Pothu Swami | |
| 2014 | Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil | ||
| 2014 | On The Way | ||
| 2014 | RajadhiRaja | DySP Paulose Pothen | |
| 2014 | Nagara Varidhi Naduvil Njan | ||
| 2014 | Malayalakkara Residency | ||
| 2019 | Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel | Irumbu Babu | |
| 2019 | Mera Naam Shaji | ||
| 2019 | Thenkashikattu | ||
| 2019 | Kuttymama | ||
| 2019 | Mr. Pavanayi 99.99 | ||
| 2019 | Visudha Pusthakam | ||
| 2019 | Oru Mass Katha Veendum | ||
| 2020 | Zebra Varakal | ||
| 2021 | Pidikittapulli | ||
| 2022 | P.K Rosy | ||
| 2023 | Prema Deshapu Yuvarani | ||
| 2023 | Orapara Kalyana Vishesham | ||
| 2023 | Chaana | ||
| 2024 | Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe |
Television
| 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 – present | Gourishankaram | DYSP Somashekharan | Asianet |