Bala (actor)

{{Short description|Indian actor}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Bala | image = | caption = | birth_name = Bala Kumar Jayakumar | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1982|12|19}}<ref name="birthdate"/> | birth_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director}} | years_active = 2002{{En dash}}present | spouse = {{Unbulleted_list| {{Marriage| Chandana Sadashiva |2008|2009|end=divorced}}| {{Marriage|Amrutha Suresh|2010|2019|end=divorced}}|{{Marriage|Elizabeth Udayan|2021|2024|end=divorced}}|{{Marriage|Kokila|2024 |}} }} | children = 1 | relatives = Siruthai Siva (brother) }}

'''Bala Kumar''' (born 19 December 1982) is an Indian actor and director, who works in Malayalam and Tamil films. He made his debut in the Telugu film ''2 Much'' (2002). He is well known for his roles in films such as ''Big B'' (2007), ''Sound of Boot'' (2008), ''Puthiya Mukham'' (2009), ''Hero'' (2012), ''Veeram'' (2014), ''Ennu Ninte Moideen'' (2015), ''Pulimurugan'' (2016), ''Aanakkallan'' (2018), ''Lucifer'' (2019), and ''Thambi'' (2019).

==Early life== Bala was born on 19 December 1982,<ref name="birthdate">{{cite news|last=K. P.|first=Sarika|title=കേക്ക് മുറിച്ചും പാട്ടുപാടിയും 41ആം പിറന്നാൾ സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾക്കൊപ്പം ആഘോഷിച്ച് ബാല; എലിസബത്ത് എവിടെയെന്ന് ആരാധകർ|url=https://malayalam.news18.com/photogallery/buzz/actor-bala-celebrated-his-41-birthday-with-his-friends-goes-viral-skp-644929.html|access-date=23 October 2024|work=CNN-News18|date=19 December 2023|language=ml}}</ref> into a family associated with the Tamil film industry. His grandfather, A. K. Velan, owned the film production house Arunachalam Studios<ref name="background">{{cite news |last1=M. |first1=Athira |title=Experimenting with the medium |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/experimenting-with-the-medium/article6808001.ece |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=22 January 2015}}</ref> and worked as a producer and screenwriter. Bala's father, Jayakumar, was a documentary photographer and short film director with over 400 works to his credit. Bala has two siblings: a brother and a sister. His brother, Siva, is a film director and cinematographer, while his sister is a scientist.<ref name="family">{{cite news |author1=Times News Network |title=Ajith's director Siva's dad, Jayakumar, passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ajiths-director-sivas-dad-jayakumar-passes-away/articleshow/79450939.cms |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=27 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/-anbu-bala--smiling-at-success--tamil-news-13434|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225070809/http://www.indiaglitz.com/-anbu-bala--smiling-at-success--tamil-news-13434|archive-date=25 February 2014|title=- Tamil News|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> Bala initially pursued a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in engineering but later switched to a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). While studying for his BBA, he began his career in acting.<ref name="background"/>

==Career== He made his debut in Telugu with ''2 Much'' (2002) and in Tamil with ''Anbu'' (2003). Since then he acted and found success in a number of Malayalam films. He received appreciation for his role in the 2009 film ''Puthiya Mukham''. He made a comeback to Tamil cinema in 2014 with the Ajith Kumar-starrer ''Veeram''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140119/entertainment-kollywood/article/bala%e2%80%99s-second-innings-tamil-thanks-ajith|title=Bala's second innings in Tamil, thanks to Ajith|first=Anupama|last=Subramanian|date=19 January 2014|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> The film, directed by his brother Siva, the film was a critical and commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/actor-bala-on-working-in-veeram-and-with-thala-ajith.html|title=Actor Bala on working in Veeram and with Thala Ajith|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref>

Bala made his directorial debut with the 2012 Malayalam action film ''The Hitlist'', in which he played the leading role. In 2015 and 2016, he performed notable supporting roles in the period romantic drama ''Ennu Ninte Moideen'' and the action film ''Pulimurugan'', and ''Lucifer'' in 2019, all three were the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.

==Personal life== Bala is religious and a devotee of god Shiva.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Musical Love Story |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2012/May/07/a-musical-love-story-365437.html |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=2 June 2012}}</ref> On 27 August 2010, he married, for a second time, ''Idea Star Singer''-fame Malayali singer Amrutha Suresh.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 June 2015 |url=http://www.cochintalkies.com/malayalam-movie-news/bala-amritha-suresh-divorce-case-shocking-reveal.html |title=Bala - Amritha Suresh Divorce case, Shocking reveal |access-date=16 June 2015 |publisher=Cochintalkies.com |author=Cochin Talkies}}</ref> They have a daughter, born in September 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/75532/ |title=ഞാനൊരു പാവം പയ്യന്‍ |work=Mathrubhumi |access-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219050935/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/75532/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}</ref> The couple divorced in 2019 after living separately for four years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/malayalam-actor-bala-arrested/article68751337.ece|title=Malayalam actor Bala arrested|publisher=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/ex-wife-claims-faced-severe-harassment-from-actor-bala-1.9984416|title=Years of abuse, harassment and lies... Bala's ex-wife responds to arrest|publisher=Mathrubhumi English}}</ref>

On 5 September 2021, he married Elizabeth Udayan, who is a doctor by profession. In an interview in 2023, Bala revealed he was living separately from Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor Bala introduces his wife Elizabeth; wedding reception photos go viral |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/actor-bala-introduces-his-wife-elizabeth-wedding-reception-photos-go-viral/articleshow/85948369.cms |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/10/20/actor-bala-plans-remarry-child-ongoing-controversies-arrest.html|title=Actor Bala announces plans to remarry amid ongoing controversies |publisher=Onmanorama}}</ref> On 22 October 2024, Bala married, for the fourth time, his cousin, Kokila.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/days-after-arrest-on-ex-wifes-complaint-actor-bala-gets-married-for-third-time-9634826/ |title=Days after arrest on ex-wife's complaint, actor Bala gets married for third time|publisher=Indian express}}</ref>

== Controversies == One of Bala's former partners accused him of rape and abuse. His ex-wife Amrutha Suresh alleged forgery in divorce case.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |title=Actor Bala's former partner accuses him of 'rape, abuse'; ex-wife Amrutha Suresh alleges forgery in divorce case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/actor-balas-former-partner-accuses-him-of-rape-abuse-9853454/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He was arrested on charges of outraging a woman's modesty following ex-wife's complaint.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-14 |title=Actor Bala arrested on charges of outraging woman's modesty following ex-wife's complaint |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/actor-bala-arrested-on-charges-of-outraging-womans-modesty-following-ex-wifes-complaint-9619516/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Bala has been arrested for threatening a YouTuber and his friend after trespassing his flat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case Against Actor For Threatening YouTuber, His Friend: Police |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/case-against-indian-actor-for-threatening-youtuber-his-friend-police-4271596 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography== ===Malayalam films=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2005 |''Arabikadhakal'' |Alavudeen Adbulla Hussan | |- | 2006 || ''Kalabham'' ||Shajahan aka Arjun || |- | rowspan="2" |2007 || ''Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan'' ||Commn. Rajan Mathew || |- | ''Big B'' || Murugan John Kurishingal || |- | rowspan="6" |2008 || ''Aayudham'' || Anwar || |- | ''Bullet'' || Flop || |- | ''SMS'' || Kichan|| |- | ''Sound of Boot'' || Rahul Krishna || |- |''Drona 2010'' |Anandapadmanabhan | |- | ''Chempada'' || Manu || |- | rowspan="3" | 2009 || ''Venalmaram'' || Vinayakan || |- | ''Puthiya Mukham'' || Sudhi || |- | ''Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded'' || Special Appearance || |- | rowspan="7" |2010 || ''Black Stallion'' || Ameer Usman || |- | ''Alexander The Great'' || Manu || |- | ''Ringtone'' || Krishna || |- | ''Avan'' || P. V. Krishnan || |- | ''Patham Adhyayam'' || Achu || |- | ''Sahasram'' ||Vaishakhan || |- | ''Chaverpada'' || Visal Sabhapathy || |- | rowspan="5" |2011 || ''Kayam'' || Sasikuttan || |- | ''Priyappetta Nattukare'' || Satheesh Kumar|| |- | ''Sivapuram'' || Shivan || |- | ''Sthalam'' || || |- | ''Makaramanju'' ||Rajaraja Varma || |- | rowspan="4"|2012 || ''Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O.'' ||Khalid || |- | ''Hero'' || Uday || |- | ''Musafir'' || Sakthidharan || |- | ''The Hitlist'' || Vikram Rathore || Directorial debut |- | 2013 || ''Cowboy'' || Xavier || |- | 2015 || ''Ennu Ninte Moideen'' || Sethu || |- | 2016 || ''Pulimurugan'' || Shiva || |- | 2017 || ''Nilavariyathe'' || Pokkan || |- | rowspan="2"|2018 || ''Wonder Boys'' || || |- | ''Aanakkallan'' || Suryanarayanan || |- | rowspan="4"|2019 || ''Lucifer'' || Bhadran || Cameo appearance |- | ''1948 Kaalam Paranjathu'' || || |- | ''An International Local Story'' || || |- | ''Fancy Dress'' || Gabriel|| |- | 2021 || ''My Dear Machans'' || Ranganathan || |- | 2022 || ''Shefeekkinte Santhosham'' || Ameer || |- | 2024 || ''Bad Boyz'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2024-09-09 |title=Ghora Ghora Rajadhi Raja song from Bad Boyz out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Sep/09/ghora-ghora-rajadhi-raja-song-from-bad-boyz-out |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> |- |}

===Tamil films=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="2"|2003 || ''Anbu'' || Anbu || |- | ''Kadhal Kisu Kisu'' || Sriram || |- | 2004 || ''Amma Appa Chellam'' || Chellam || |- | 2006 || ''Kalinga'' || Kalinga || |- | 2009 || ''Manjal Veyil'' || Ravi || |- | 2014 || ''Veeram'' || Murugan || |- | 2019 || ''Thambi'' || MLA Manimaaran || |- | 2021 || ''Annaatthe''|| Arjun || |- |}

===Other language films=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role !! Language ! Notes |- | 2002 || ''2 Much'' || Bullebbai || rowspan="2"|Telugu || Credited as Bala Kumar<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-2much.html | title=Telugu Cinema - Review - 2 much - Veeru K - Bala Kumar, Raasi, Chitra Mehata - Diwakar Babu - Nandamuri Hari }}</ref> |- | 2010 || ''Chapter 6'' || || |- | 2012 || ''The Hitlist'' || Vikram Rathore || Kannada || |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role !Channel ! Language ! Notes |- |2007||''Idea Star Singer'' ||Celebrity Judge||Asianet||rowspan=10|Malayalam|| |- |2011||''Vivel Big Break'' ||Judge||Surya TV|| |- |2015||''Uggram Ujjwalam'' ||Judge||Mazhavil Manorama|| |- |2019||''Thakarppan Comedy'' ||Judge||Mazhavil Manorama|| |- |2020||''Snehathode Veetil Ninnu'' ||Himself|| Mazhavil Manorama||Quarantine special show |- |2021||''Star Magic''||Mentor||Flowers TV|| |- |2022-2023||''Comedy Masters''||Judge||Amrita TV|| |- |2023||''Funs Upon A Time season 3''||Judge||Amrita TV|| |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Facebook|ActorBalaOfficial}} * {{IMDb name|2636112}} * [http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Bala&limit=27 Bala on Msidb]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bala}} Category:Tamil male actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Male actors from Chennai Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema Category:1982 births