{{short description|Indian actor}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Bheeman Reghu | image = Bheeman raghu.JPG | caption = Reghu at an event in 2013 | alt = Raghu smiling, wearing a black T-shirt and sunglasses | birth_name = Reghu Damodharan<ref name="KAE"/> | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Perunna]], [[Changanacherry]], [[Travancore–Cochin]], India | other_names = Bheeman Raghu<!--With "a" instead of "e"-->, Reghuvera, Nilppan | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|police officer}} | years_active = 1981–present | alma_mater = [[University of Kerala]] (LLB) | political_party = [[Indian National Congress]] (before 2016), [[BJP]] (2016-2023), [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (since 2023) | spouse = {{Marriage|Sudha Reghu|1978}} | children = 3 }}
'''Reghu Damodharan''', known by his [[stage name]] '''Bheeman Reghu''', is an Indian actor and retired police officer. Before transitioning to a full-time career in cinema, he served as a [[sub-inspector]] in the [[Kerala Police]]. With a career spanning over four decades, Reghu has appeared in more than 400 films, predominantly in [[Malayalam cinema]]. While he is best recognized for his villainous roles, he has occasionally ventured into comedic performances.
Beyond acting, he has also been involved in politics and film direction. In 2016, Reghu contested the [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|Kerala Legislative Assembly election]] as a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) candidate from [[Pathanapuram (State Assembly constituency)|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).
==Early life== Reghu, originally named Reghu Damodharan,<ref name="myneta">{{cite web |title=Reghu Damodharan (Bheeman Reghu)(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- PATHANAPURAM(KOLLAM) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/Kerala2016/candidate.php?candidate_id=974 |website=[[Association for Democratic Reforms|My Neta]]|access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref> 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 (India)|Municipal Commissioner]], and Thankamma. He has a sister, Vasundhara Devi.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |author1=Mathrubhumi |title=ന്റപ്പൂപ്പന് 15 ആനേണ്ടാർന്നെന്ന് ഭീമൻ രഘു; േട്രാളുന്നവർ ആയിക്കോ |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/features/sunday-special/sundayspecial-1.8929436 |access-date=1 October 2023 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=23 September 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> He later attended [[University College Thiruvananthapuram]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science]] (BSc) degree.<ref name="myneta"/> He subsequently pursued an [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]] degree from [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinidiary.com/peopleinfo.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=2&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=B |title=CiniDiary |publisher=CiniDiary |access-date=2011-01-15 |archive-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708154733/http://cinidiary.com/peopleinfo.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=2&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=B |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career== 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajan |first1=Silpa |title=Bheeman Raghu on his maiden directorial 'Chaana': This was a story worth telling - EXCLUSIVE! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/bheeman-raghu-on-his-maiden-directorial-chaana-this-was-a-story-worth-telling-exclusive/articleshow/91742433.cms |access-date=1 October 2023 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=23 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-28|title=Take A Look! Do You Know The Films For Which These Comedians Turned Villains?|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2016/when-comedians-turned-villains-in-malayalam-cinema-224407.html|access-date=2020-09-07|website=filmibeat.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Police Officers turned actors who made it big in Mollywood|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/police-officers-turned-actors-who-made-it-big-in-mollywood/photostory/53063070.cms|access-date=2020-09-07|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bheeman Raghu's directorial debut Chaana gets a release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/mar/09/bheeman-raghus-directorial-debut-chaana-gets-a-release-date-40845.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |date=9 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==Politics== 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} 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 Assembly constituency|Pathanapuram constituency]]. He contested against fellow actors [[K. B. Ganesh Kumar]] of the [[Kerala Congress (B)]] representing the [[Left Democratic Front|LDF]] and [[Jagadish]] of the [[Indian National Congress]] representing the [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bheeman Raghu - Pathanapuram NDA Candidate Kerala Assembly Elections 2016, Votes, Lead|url=http://www.keralaassembly.com/candidate/bheeman-raghu/90|access-date=2020-09-07|website=keralaassembly.com}}</ref> He finished third with 11,700 votes.<ref name="KAE">{{cite web |title=Kerala Assembly Election Results-- 2016 |url=http://keralaassembly.org/election/2016/assembly_poll.php?year=2016&no=120 |website=Keralaassembly.org |access-date=1 October 2023 |date=May 2016}}</ref>
In 2023, Reghu quit the BJP and joined the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Statesman News Service |title=Noted actor Bheeman Raghu to quit BJP |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/noted-actor-bheeman-raghu-to-quit-bjp-1503189219.html |access-date=1 October 2023 |work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |date=11 June 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Bheeman Reghu married Sudha Reghu.<ref>{{cite news|title='ചിപ്പി വന്നിട്ടുണ്ടോ ആവോ, ഇതാണെന്റെ ചിപ്പി';ഭാര്യയെ ചേര്ത്തുപിടിച്ച് ഭീമന് രഘു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/bheeman-raghu-visits-attukal-pongala-with-wife-1.4602022|access-date=2020-09-07|date=10 March 2020|work=[[Mathrubhumi]]}}</ref> The couple have three children.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes |- | rowspan="3" | 1981 || ''Grihalakshmi'' || || |- | ''Pinneyum Pookkunna Kaadu'' || || |- | ''[[Kaahalam]]'' || || |- | rowspan="4" | 1982 || ''[[Aa Divasam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Thadakam]]'' || || |- | ''Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam'' || Jacob || |- | ''[[Bheeman]]'' || Bheeman Reghu || First film as hero |- | rowspan="8" | 1983 || ''[[Thimingalam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Hello Madras Girl]]'' || || |- | ''[[Oru Maadapraavinte Kadha]]'' || || |- | ''[[Asthram (1983 film)|Asthram]]'' || || |- | ''[[Rathilayam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kodumkattu]]'' || || |- | ''Asuran'' || || |- | ''[[Ponthooval]]'' || || |- | rowspan="9" | 1984 || ''[[Thirakkil Alppa Samayam]]'' || Bhargavan || |- | ''Nethavu'' || || |- | ''[[Raajavembaala]]'' || Antony|| |- | ''[[Nishedi]]'' || Vimal/Vinod || |- | ''[[Rakshassu]]'' || Raghu || |- | ''[[Bullet (1984 film)|Bullet]]'' || || |- | ''[[Bheekaran]]'' || || |- | ''[[Ivide Ingane]]'' || Sugunan || |- | ''[[Itha Innu Muthal]]'' || Rajkumar || |- | rowspan="8" | 1985 || ''[[Paara (film)|Paara]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kiratham]]'' || Radhakrishnan || |- | ''[[Oru Naal Innoru Naal]]'' || Koyakutti || |- | ''[[Kannaaram Pothippothi]] '' || Vaasu || |- | ''[[Sammelanam]]'' || || |- | ''Mukhyamanthri'' || Jamal || |- | ''[[Shathru (1985 film)|Shatru]]'' || Johny || |- | ''[[Janakeeya Kodathi]]'' || Raveendran || |- | rowspan="7" | 1986 || ''[[Sakhavu (1986 film)|Sakhavu]]'' || || |- | ''[[Pidikittapulli]]'' || || |- | ''[[Niramulla Raavukal]]'' || || |- | ''[[Ardha Raathri]]'' || || |- | ''[[Railway Cross]]'' || || |- | ''[[Karinagam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kaala Rathri]]'' || || |- | rowspan="4" | 1987 || ''[[Dheeran]]'' || || |- | ''[[Neeyallengil Njan]]'' || Tiger Ramu || |- | ''[[Itha Samayamayi]]'' || || |- | ''[[Ithrayum Kaalam]]'' || || |- | rowspan="7" | 1988 || ''[[1921 (1988 film)|1921]]'' || Historical character || |- | ''[[Janma Shatru]]'' ||Raghu || |- | ''[[Onninu Purake Mattonnu]]'' || || |- | ''Karate Girls'' || || |- | ''[[Theruvu Narthaki]]'' ||Muraleedharan || |- | ''[[Bheekaran]]'' || Rajan|| |- | ''[[Mukthi]]'' || Police officer || |- | rowspan="3" | 1989 || ''[[Puthiya Karukkal]]'' || Robert || |- | ''[[Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha]]'' || Aringodar's Sishyan || |- | ''[[Mrigaya (1989 film)|Mrigaya]]'' || Kunjachan|| |- | rowspan="7" | 1990 || ''[[Randam Varavu]]'' || Vasu || |- | ''Qatil Jawani'' || As Bheeman Reghu || |- | ''[[Idu Saadhya]]'' || || Dubbed to Malayalam as ''48 Manikkoor'' |- | ''[[Arhatha]]'' || Siddique || |- | ''[[Midhya]]'' || Varghese || |- | ''[[Samrajyam]]'' || Alexander's right-hand man || |- | ''[[Kalikkalam]]'' || Jose || |- | rowspan="9" | 1991 || ''[[Godfather (1991 film)|Godfather]]'' || Premachandran || |- | ''[[Ente Sooryaputhrikku]]'' || Ravi || |- | ''[[Advaitham]]'' || || |- | ''[[Inspector Balram]]'' || D'cruz Perera || |- | ''Master Plan'' || || |- | ''[[Adayalam]]'' || Raju|| |- | ''Agni Nilavu'' || Karinjan|| |- | ''[[Neelagiri]]'' || Chandru || |- | ''[[Karpoora Mullai]]'' || Ravi || Tamil film |- | rowspan="5" | 1992 || ''[[Neelakurukkan]]'' || || |- | ''[[Police Diary]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kizhakkan Pathrose]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kauravar]]'' || Ramayyan || |- | ''[[Mahanagaram]]'' || Padmanabhan || |- | rowspan="3" | 1993 || ''[[Vietnam Colony]]'' || Irumpu John || |- | ''[[Janam (1993 film)|Janam]]'' || Feroz || |- | ''[[Devasuram]]'' || Kallan Chacko || |- | rowspan="4" | 1994 || ''Gentleman Security'' || Cruz|| |- | ''Kadal'' || || |- | ''[[Rudraksham]]'' || Thankachan || |- | ''[[Commissioner]]'' || Wilfred Vincent Bastin || |- | rowspan="4" | 1995 || ''Arabikadaloram '' || Karlose || |- | ''[[Street (film)|Street]]'' || || |- | ''[[Prayikkara Pappan]]'' || || |- | ''[[Spadikam]]'' || SI Somasekharan Pillai || |- | rowspan="3" | 1996 || ''Mookkilla Rajyathu Murimookkan Rajavu'' || || |- | ''Hitlist'' || Vikram|| |- | ''[[Dominic Presentation (film)|Dominic Presentation]]'' ||Amareshan|| |- | rowspan="4" | 1997 || ''Kaduva Thoma'' || || |- | ''[[Bhoopathi (1997 film)|Bhoopathi]]'' || || |- | ''[[Aaraam Thampuran]]'' || Apputty Nambiar || |- | ''[[Varnapakittu]]'' || SI Damodaran Nair || |- | rowspan="2" | 1998 || ''Kalapam'' || Karippayi Antony|| |- | ''Magician Mahendralal from Delhi'' || Kumar || |- | rowspan="4" | 1999 || ''[[James Bond]]'' || Haajiyar || |- | ''[[Captain (1999 film)|Captain]]'' || Rengan|| |- | ''[[F.I.R (1999 film)|FIR]]'' || Chakrapani, As a Drama Director || |- | ''[[Aayiram Meni]]'' || Maramadi Mammachan || |- | rowspan="6" | 2000 || ''[[Narasimham (film)|Narasimham]]'' || C. I. Sankaranarayanan || |- | ''[[Valliettan]]'' || Nedungadi || |- | ''[[India Gate]]'' || || |- | ''Priyankari'' || || |- | ''Rapid Action Force'' ||Tyson John|| |- | ''[[Mark Antony]]'' || Kariyachan|| |- | rowspan="3" | 2001 || ''Chitrathoonukal'' || || |- | ''Layam'' || || |- | ''[[Nariman (film)|Nariman]]'' || Musthafa Kamal || |- | rowspan="4" | 2002 || ''[[Ee Nadu Innale Vare]]'' || Ana Kasim || |- | ''Suvarna Mohangal'' || || |- | ''[[Phantom (2002 film)|Phantom]]'' || Irachi Pranchi || |- | ''[[Chathurangam (2002 film)|Chathurangam]]'' || Hakkim || |- | rowspan="2" | 2004 || ''Thudakkam'' ||A.S.I. Prushothaman|| |- | ''[[Vajram (2004 film)|Vajram]]'' || Poovalan|| |- | rowspan="6" | 2005 || ''[[Chandrolsavam]]'' || Eangapara Peethambaran || |- | ''[[Thaskaraveeran (2005 film)|Thaskara Veeran]]'' || Kargil Narayanan || |- | ''[[Ben Johnson (film)|Ben Johnson]]'' || Bheeman Raghu || |- | ''[[Udayon]]'' || Police officer || |- | ''[[Naran (film)|Naran]]'' || Keeri Raghavan || |- | ''[[Rajamanikyam]]'' || Quintal' Varkey || |- | rowspan="13" | 2006 || ''[[Madhuchandralekha]]'' || Arumugham || |- | ''[[Thuruppugulan (2006 film)|Thuruppu Gulan]]'' || Tipper Vasu || |- | ''[[Chacko Randaaman]]'' ||Chenkannan Rajan|| |- | ''[[Prajapathi]]'' || SP Ramachandran|| |- | ''[[Highway Police]]'' || || |- | ''[[Lakshmi (2006 film)|Lakshmi]]'' || || Telugu |- | ''[[Red Salute (2006 film)|Red Salute]]'' || Marthandan Velayudhan || |- | ''[[Raashtram]]'' ||Koshi || |- | ''Lion'' || DYSP Anantharaghavan|| |- | ''[[Chinthamani Kolacase]]'' ||David Rajarathnam || |- | ''[[Chess (2006 film)|Chess]]'' || DYSP Koshi || |- | ''[[The Don (2006 film)|The Don]]'' || Sikandar || |- | ''[[Kanaka Simhasanam]]'' || Ramakrishnan || |- | rowspan="7" | 2007 || ''[[Romeoo]]'' || Avaran || |- | ''[[Chotta Mumbai]]'' || CI Alex || |- | ''[[Black Cat (2007 film)|Black Cat]]'' || Vikram Dharma|| |- | ''[[Kaakki]]'' || DIG || |- | ''[[Athishayan]]'' || Commissioner Shanmughan || |- | ''[[Hallo (film)|Hallo]]'' || Batheri Bappu || |- | ''[[Nasrani (film)|Nasrani]]'' || Rajeevan || |- | rowspan="4" | 2008 || ''Jubilee'' || Aravukaran Ali|| |- | ''[[Kabadi Kabadi (2008 film)|Kabadi Kabadi]]'' || Chitrangathan || |- | ''Kanal Kannaadi'' || || |- | ''[[Sound of Boot]]'' || ADGP Thomas Sebastian || |- | rowspan="6" | 2009 || ''[[Seetha Kalyanam (2009 film)|Seetha Kalyanam]]'' || Usilampatti Vasu || |- | ''[[Ee Pattanathil Bhootham]]'' || Circus master || |- | ''[[Hailesa]]'' || Valayar Maniyappan || |- | ''[[Kappal Muthalaali]]'' || Parushuraman || |- | ''[[Loudspeaker (2009 film)|Loudspeaker]]'' || Madhavan Nair || |- | ''[[Duplicate (2009 film)|Duplicate]]'' || Blade Dasappan || |- | rowspan="7" | 2010 || ''Nalla Pattukare'' || Dance teacher || |- | ''[[Thaskara Lahala]]'' || Idiyan George || |- | ''Aakaasha Yaathra'' || || |- | ''Njaan Sanchaari'' || || |- | ''[[Oru Small Family]]'' || Hercules || |- | ''[[Best of Luck (2010 film)|Best of Luck]]'' || Bhasi || |- | ''[[Kanyakumari Express (film)|Kanyakumari Express]]'' || || |- | rowspan="3" | 2011 || ''[[Janapriyan]]'' || || |- | ''[[Manushyamrugam|Manushya Mrugam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Teja Bhai & Family]]'' || Johny|| |- | rowspan="3" | 2012 || ''Theruvu Nakshatrangal'' || || |- | ''[[Madirasi]]'' || || |- | ''[[Naughty Professor]]'' || || |- | rowspan="3" | 2013 || ''[[My Fan Ramu]]'' || || |- | ''[[Housefull (2013 film)|Housefull]]'' || Benchamin Joseph || |- | ''For Sale '' || Pothu Swami || |- | rowspan="5" | 2014 || ''[[Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil]]'' || || |- | ''On The Way'' || || |- | ''[[RajadhiRaja]]'' || DySP Paulose Pothen || |- | ''[[Nagara Varidhi Naduvil Njan]]'' || || |- | ''Malayalakkara Residency'' || || |- | rowspan="7" | 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 (film)|P. K. Rosy]]'' || || |- | rowspan="3" | 2023 || ''[[Prema Deshapu Yuvarani]]''|| || |- | ''Orapara Kalyana Vishesham'' || || |- | ''Chaana'' || || |- | rowspan="2" | 2024 || ''Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe'' || || |- | ''[[Bad Boyz (film)|Bad Boyz]]'' || || |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Channel |- |2004 – 2005||''[[Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV series)|Kadamattathu Kathanar]]'' ||Ittan Pada Nair||[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] |- |2005||''[[Vikramadithyan]]'' ||Needivakyan||Asianet |- |2016||''Ugram Ujjwalam Season 2'' ||Himself||[[Mazhavil Manorama]] |- |2018||''Urvashi Theatres'' ||Himself||Asianet |- |2021||''[[Koodevide (TV series)|Koodevide]]'' ||Komban||Asianet |- |2023 – present|| ''Gourishankaram'' ||DYSP Somashekharan||Asianet |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1783981}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045708/http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Bheeman%20Raghu&limit=113 Bheeman Raghu at MSI]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raghu Gowda, Bheeman}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:People from Changanassery]] [[Category:Indian male film actors]] [[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]] [[Category:Male actors from Kottayam]] [[Category:Indian police officers]] [[Category:Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, alumni]] [[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]