# Suresh Gopi (സുരേഷ് ഗോപി)
**Suresh Gopi** (സുരേഷ് ഗോപി) is an Indian actor and politician who works predominantly in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema), known for his police and vigilante roles of the 1990s and, since 2024, as the first Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Kerala and a Union Minister of State.[1](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government) • [2](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf) He has acted in more than 250 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.[1](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 in Kerala; sources differ on the exact date, giving 1958[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329730/) or 1958[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/suresh-gopi) • [5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/) |
| Debut | Child actor in K. S. Sethumadhavan's *Odayil Ninnu* (1965)[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/) |
| Breakthrough | The "angry young cop" in *Ekalavyan* (1993), then Bharath Chandran IPS in *Commissioner* (1994)[6](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop) |
| Major award | National Film Award and Kerala State Award for Best Actor for *Kaliyattam* (1997), an Othello adaptation directed by Jayaraj[1](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government) |
| Output | 223 Malayalam films counted by one film database, including 15 with director Shaji Kailas and 14 with Joshiy[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html) |
| Political office | First BJP MP from Kerala; Union Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas[2](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf) |
## Early life and film debut
Suresh Gopi was born in Kerala in 1958; his listed birth date varies between 25 June 1958[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329730/) and 26 June 1958[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/suresh-gopi), and one film database gives 1959.[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suresh-gopi/upcoming-movies.html) He made his screen debut as a child actor in K. S. Sethumadhavan's *Odayil Ninnu* (1965), a film starring Sathyan and [Prem Nazir](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-nazir).[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/) • [9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/suresh-gopi-from-mohanlal-henchman-to-union-minister-extraordinary-rise-and-fall-10562748/)
Before films he had aimed at a different career. In a 1990s interview he said he had passed the preliminary stage of the Civil Service Examination, writing it during the shooting of a film, and that his father wanted him to join the [Indian Police Service](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-police-service).[10](https://m.rediff.com/movies/oct/30gopi.htm) In college he was an active member of the [Students' Federation of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/students-federation-of-india), the student wing of the [Communist Party of India (Marxist)](https://www.edgepedia.org/communist-party-of-india-marxist), and later became an admirer of Indira Gandhi and the Congress.[10](https://m.rediff.com/movies/oct/30gopi.htm)
## From villain to action star
His credited career began slowly. According to the crowd-sourced Malayalam film database M3DB, his film career began in 1984 with an uncredited role, his next film came in 1986, and he later found some recognition as a villain without becoming a bankable star.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html) His first major role came in Fazil's *Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal* (1986), one of the most successful films of the 1980s.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/) Through the late 1980s he took varied supporting parts, including the unscrupulous minister's son in *Irupatham Noottandu* (1987), a journalist in *[New Delhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-delhi-1987-film)* (1987), a CBI trainee in *Oru CBI Diary Kurippu* (1988), and the comic Sub-Inspector Minnal Prathapan in *Manu Uncle* (1988).[6](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop)
**The cop persona.** After roughly a hundred films in supporting and villain roles, his breakthrough came as the "angry young cop" in *Ekalavyan* (1993), scripted by [Renji Panicker](https://www.edgepedia.org/renji-panicker) and directed by [Shaji Kailas](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaji-kailas).[6](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop) A year later, *Commissioner* (1994) made him a star, placing him alongside [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) and Mohanlal at the top of Malayalam cinema.[6](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop) Films such as *Thalastaanam* (1992), *Ekalavyan*, *Mafia* (1993), and *Commissioner*, from the Panicker–Kailas team, were the stepping stones of his stardom.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/) Of the 223 Malayalam films counted by M3DB, 15 were directed by Shaji Kailas, 14 by Joshiy, and 10 by I. V. Sasi.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html)
In his own account, the police officer Bharath Chandran remained the most popular of his cop roles and a major career breakthrough, and he described a lifelong fascination with the khaki uniform nurtured by his father's circle of police friends.[11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/aug/07/suresh-gopi-on-playing-cops-279307.html) A scholar of Malayalam crime films, Dr Sudeesh K of the Department of Cultural Studies at EFLU, Hyderabad, describes his on-screen persona as a populist vigilante who rides through the legal system and delivers poetic justice in a world of hopeless bureaucracy.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html)
## Kaliyattam and recognition
Despite commercial popularity, he did not win a national or state award until *Kaliyattam* (1997), Jayaraj's adaptation of Shakespeare's *Othello*.[12](https://www.thenewsminute.com/long-form/bjps-hope-in-kerala-suresh-gopi-the-superstar-who-fell-short) For that role he received both the National Film Award and the Kerala State Award, given in 1998.[1](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government) He later recalled winning the National Award for *Kaliyattam* in 1998 and the Producer's National Award for *Jalamarmaram* in 2000.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/suresh-gopi-says-politics-affected-his-film-career-poor-biju-menon-might-have-won-best-actor-sometimes/articleshow/125452586.cms)
## Politics
His entry into electoral politics was gradual. During the 2006 Assembly elections, while his film career was declining, he campaigned for the [Left Democratic Front](https://www.edgepedia.org/left-democratic-front) candidate [V. S. Achuthanandan](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-s-achuthanandan) in Malampuzha and the United Democratic Front candidate M. P. Gangadharan in Ponnani.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/suresh-gopi-from-mohanlal-henchman-to-union-minister-extraordinary-rise-and-fall-10562748/) His formal political career is dated to 2016.[1](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government)
In the 2024 general election he won the Thrissur seat by a margin of 47,858 votes in his debut election, becoming the first BJP MP from Kerala.[14](https://theamansandeshtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/05-june-news-final.pdf) • [2](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf) He was appointed Union Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas.[2](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf) Commentators linked his electoral appeal to his screen image: the vigilante figure who delivers justice where the system fails had, in effect, prepared audiences for the politician.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html)
## Recent career
Alongside politics he has continued to act in close to 300 films over a four-decade career, and he anchored the Malayalam version of the game show *Kaun Banega Crorepati*.[2](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf) Notable later films include *Paappan* (2022), directed by Joshiy, and the 2023 crime thriller *Garudan*, in which he played SP Harish Madhav.[6](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop) • [15](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jul/13/suresh-gopi-reunites-with-producer-listin-stephen-for-new-film-after-garudan-casting-call-announced) His most recent release is the legal drama *[JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala](https://www.edgepedia.org/jsk-janaki-v-v-s-state-of-kerala)* (2025), co-starring [Anupama Parameswaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/anupama-parameswaran), and he has multiple projects in production, including *Ottakomban*, *Varaaham*, and Jayaraj's *Oru Perumgaliyattam*.[15](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jul/13/suresh-gopi-reunites-with-producer-listin-stephen-for-new-film-after-garudan-casting-call-announced) He has said that politics affected his film career.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/suresh-gopi-says-politics-affected-his-film-career-poor-biju-menon-might-have-won-best-actor-sometimes/articleshow/125452586.cms)
## References
1. [Suresh Gopi: The Many Faces of BJP's Kerala Story, The Quint](https://www.thequint.com/elections/suresh-gopi-many-faces-kerala-thrissur-bjp-government)
2. [Actor and Union Minister Suresh Gopi profile, The Avenue Mail (IANS)](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Avenue-Mail-Oct-28.pdf)
3. [Suresh Gopi, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329730/)
4. [Suresh Gopi, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/suresh-gopi)
5. [Beginner's guide to actor Suresh Gopi, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/beginners-guide-actor-suresh-gopi-birthday-must-watch-sg-films-pre-action-hero-era-8685453/)
6. [Suresh Gopi, the actor who plays cop and the politician who plays cop, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/suresh-gopi-the-actor-who-plays-cop-and-the-politician-who-plays-cop)
7. [Vigilante movies, TV shows shaped Suresh Gopi's win in Neta role, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/09/suresh-gopi-political-journey-from-films.html)
8. [Suresh Gopi upcoming movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/suresh-gopi/upcoming-movies.html)
9. [From Mohanlal's 'henchman' to Union Minister, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/suresh-gopi-from-mohanlal-henchman-to-union-minister-extraordinary-rise-and-fall-10562748/)
10. [An interview with Suresh Gopi, Rediff](https://m.rediff.com/movies/oct/30gopi.htm)
11. [Suresh Gopi, on playing cops, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/aug/07/suresh-gopi-on-playing-cops-279307.html)
12. [BJP's Kerala Hope: Suresh Gopi, the Superstar who Fell Short, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/long-form/bjps-hope-in-kerala-suresh-gopi-the-superstar-who-fell-short)
13. [Suresh Gopi says politics affected his film career, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/suresh-gopi-says-politics-affected-his-film-career-poor-biju-menon-might-have-won-best-actor-sometimes/articleshow/125452586.cms)
14. [Suresh Gopi wins it for BJP, The Aman Sandesh Times](https://theamansandeshtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/05-june-news-final.pdf)
15. [Suresh Gopi reunites with producer Listin Stephen, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jul/13/suresh-gopi-reunites-with-producer-listin-stephen-for-new-film-after-garudan-casting-call-announced)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Malayalam film actors › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 27, 2026; Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 27, 2026; Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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