Babu Antony

Babu Antony, born on February 22, 1966, is a versatile Indian-American actor and accomplished martial artist primarily known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has also made significant contributions to Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sinhalese, Hindi, and English films. Over the course of his career, he transitioned from playing antagonistic roles to taking on supporting and leading roles. Besides his acting career, Babu owns a mixed martial arts academy in Houston.

Babu Antony made his debut in the film industry with Bharathan’s “Chilampu” in 1986. Some of the standout moments in his career include his roles in films like “Vaishali” (1988), “Aparahnam” (1991), and “Uppukandam Brothers” (1993).

In his early life, Babu was born to T.J. Antony and Mariyam Antony in Ponkunnam, Kerala, India. He received his education from various schools, including Sacred Heart High School, Government Boys High School, and St. Dominic’s High School in Kanjirappally. He pursued a degree in English literature in Pune and later earned a master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. His journey into the film industry began as a cinematographer at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. In addition to his cinematic pursuits, Babu holds a Fifth Dan Black Belt in martial arts.

Babu Antony initially played minor roles, making appearances in films like “Shathru” (1985) and “Mizhineerppoovukal” (1986) in Malayalam. However, he gained significant recognition with his role in Fazil’s 1986 thriller “Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal,” which was remade into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, with Babu reprising his role in all five versions. He began his career as an antagonist in Bharathan’s “Chilambu” (1987).

In 1987, he made his debut in Tamil cinema alongside Sathyaraj in “Poovizhi Vasalile” and later appeared in films like “Makkal En Pakkam” and Kamal Haasan’s “Vrutham” (1987) in Malayalam. Babu gained popularity in roles that included horror films like “Veendum Lisa” and also acted alongside Chiranjeevi in “Pasivadi Pranam” and “Jebu Donga.”

Babu Antony ventured into Kannada cinema with “Shanti Kranti” (1991) and continued to make a mark with movies like “Aparahnam” (1991), “Gandhari” (1993), “Rajadhani” (1994), and “Bharanakoodam” (1994). His diverse range of roles included portraying an ex-terrorist in “Aparahnam,” a king in “Vaishali” (1988), and a character facing financial struggles in “Sayahnam” (2000). “Uppukandam Brothers” (1993) was a pivotal film that propelled him into leading roles.

Babu Antony also made his presence felt in Hindi cinema with the movie “Hatya” in 1988 and in Telugu films such as “Lorry Driver” (1990), “Sathruvu” (1991), and “Nippu Ravva” (1993). He expanded his reach to English-language films with “Made in USA” (2005) and “Leader” (2009) in Sinhala. Noteworthy Tamil films in his repertoire include “Anjali” (1990), “Surieyan” (1992), “Airport” (1993), “Attahasam” (2004), “Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa” (2010), “Kanchana” (2011), “Aadhi-Bhagavan” (2013), “Kaaviya Thalaivan” (2014), “Kaaka Muttai” (2015), “Adanga Maru” (2018), and “Ponniyin Selvan” (2022).