Bobby Simha
Bobby Simha (born Jayasimha; 6 November 1983) is an Indian actor who primarily works in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam-language films. He began his career with short films and minor roles in the early 2010s before achieving breakthrough success with his intense portrayal of the gangster Sethu in the 2014 Tamil crime comedy Jigarthanda, for which he received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.[1] Known for his versatile performances in both lead and supporting roles, Simha has appeared in over 50 films across multiple South Indian industries, often playing complex antagonists or nuanced characters.[2] Born in Hyderabad to a Telugu-speaking family, Simha was raised in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and considers it his hometown.[3] His father, Prasad Pasupuleti, is a Telugu film producer, and he has three sisters, including actress Reshma Pasupuleti. Simha completed a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at Pioneer College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, before pursuing acting. Simha made his feature film debut with a small role in the 2012 Tamil romantic comedy Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi (also known as Pizza II: Villa), followed by brief appearances in Pizza and Soodhu Kavvum (2013).[4] His career gained momentum with comedic villain roles in Neram (2013, Malayalam) and the critically acclaimed Soodhu Kavvum, but Jigarthanda marked his stardom, earning him additional accolades including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil and the Vijay Award for Best Villain.[3] Subsequent notable works include Iraivi (2016), where he played a layered husband; the Rajinikanth starrer Petta (2019); and the multilingual 777 Charlie (2022).[4] In recent years, he has expanded into Telugu cinema with films like Size Zero (2015) and the multilingual Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad (2024), with some works dubbed in Hindi, while also venturing into production with Meter (2023).[2] As of November 2025, Simha has credits in over 50 projects and is set to appear in the upcoming Tamil film Thadai Udai, scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026.[5] Simha married actress Reshmi Menon on 22 April 2016 in a private ceremony.[6] The couple has two children: a daughter, Mudhra Simha, born in May 2017, and a son, Arjun Simha, born on 11 November 2019.[7] Based in Chennai, Simha maintains a low-profile family life while continuing to balance acting and production endeavors.[3]Background
Early life
Bobby Simha was born Jayasimha on November 6, 1983, in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now part of Telangana), into a Telugu family.[8] His father, Prasad Pasupuleti, is a Telugu film producer,[9] while his mother was a homemaker; the family originally hailed from Andhra Pradesh. He has three sisters, including actress Reshma Pasupuleti.[3] In 1995, at the age of 12, the family relocated from Hyderabad to the hill station of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu due to his father's job circumstances.[8] Simha's early years in Kodaikanal were marked by a restless childhood; prior to the move, he had attended a boarding school near Mopidevi in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, where he often bunked classes and exhibited truant behavior, including running away from the hostel and briefly working as a lorry cleaner.[8] After settling in Kodaikanal, he completed his schooling at a local institution, finding some stability amid the scenic environment that contrasted his earlier disruptions. He later pursued and completed a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at Pioneer College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore.[8][10][9] His passion for acting ignited in 2005 during his participation in the Coimbatore-based event Naalaya Natchathiram, a platform for aspiring talents, where chief guests director Sundar C and theater personality E. Ramadoss praised his performance and urged him to explore opportunities in Tamil cinema.[10][11] Encouraged by this experience, Simha moved to Chennai in 2006 to pursue acting professionally and joined the acclaimed Tamil theater troupe Koothu-p-pattarai, where he underwent training that honed his skills and boosted his self-assurance in performance.[12]Personal life
Bobby Simha got engaged to actress Reshmi Menon on November 8, 2015, in a private ceremony at a hotel in Mylapore, Chennai, shortly after they co-starred in the Tamil film Urumeen (2015).[13][14][15] The couple married on April 22, 2016, in a low-key ceremony at the Tirupati temple, attended only by close family and friends, followed by a reception in Chennai two days later.[16][17][18] Simha and Menon welcomed their first child, a daughter named Mudhra, in May 2017.[3] Their second child, a son named Arjun Simha, was born on November 11, 2019.[6][7] The family resides in Chennai, where Simha and Menon have occasionally collaborated professionally, beginning with their on-screen pairing in Urumeen.[3][17] In recent years, the couple has maintained a private yet stable family life, with Simha occasionally sharing glimpses of their time together while balancing his acting commitments with parenting responsibilities.[19]Career
2007–2012: Early work
Bobby Simha began his acting career in the mid-2000s by participating in short films, particularly through the television program Nalaya Iyakunar on Kalaignar TV, which aired from 2007 to 2010 and showcased emerging directors.[20] During this period, he collaborated with budding filmmakers such as Karthik Subbaraj and Nalan Kumarasamy, forging key connections in Tamil cinema, including friendships with actors like Vijay Sethupathi that later influenced his professional network.[20] These short film experiences provided essential exposure, as Simha assisted in projects like a one-minute short film initiative by director Manikandan and performed in various entries that highlighted his versatility in supporting roles.[21] His feature film debut came in 2007 with a minor, uncredited role as a barber customer in the Tamil drama Maya Kannadi, directed by Cheran, marking his initial foray into full-length cinema while he continued honing his craft through short films.[22] By 2012, Simha secured small supporting parts in films such as Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi, where he played Jayasimha, and Pizza, appearing briefly as a suspicious husband named Bobby, roles that built on his short film reputation but offered limited screen time.[22] In parallel, Simha immersed himself in theater in Chennai, enrolling in a three-month acting course at Koothu-P-Pattarai under theater artist Somasundaram, which emphasized yoga, meditation, and physical exercises to refine his performance skills.[21] This training, conducted during 2007–2012, helped shape his approach to character immersion, influencing his later on-screen intensity without dominating his early film-focused efforts. Throughout these years, Simha faced significant challenges, including financial instability and limited acting opportunities, prompting him to take part-time jobs at a BPO and in marketing to cover basic expenses in Chennai.[21] He also worked behind-the-scenes as a technician on friends' short films to stay involved in the industry, enduring emotional strain from lost time, health issues, and severed friendships amid the uncertainty of breaking through.[20] Despite these hurdles, the recognition from his Nalaya Iyakunar work gradually opened doors to more film auditions by 2012, signaling a transition toward expanded roles.[21]2013–2017: Breakthrough and acclaim
Bobby Simha's breakthrough came in 2013 with prominent roles in two critically received films. In Nalan Kumarasamy's black comedy Soodhu Kavvum, he portrayed Pagalavan, a quirky gangster involved in a kidnapping scheme, earning praise for his comedic timing and intensity that added depth to the ensemble cast.[23] Shortly after, he played the antagonist Vatti Raja in Alphonse Puthren's bilingual thriller Neram, released simultaneously in Tamil and Malayalam, where his menacing yet humorous villainy stood out in the fast-paced narrative.[23] These performances marked his transition from minor roles to more substantial characters, showcasing his ability to blend humor and menace effectively. The year 2014 solidified his rise with Karthik Subbaraj's Jigarthanda, where Simha delivered a standout portrayal of Sethu, a ruthless Madurai-based gangster known as "Assault Sethu." His intense physical transformation, raw dialogue delivery, and layered depiction of a violent yet vulnerable antagonist garnered widespread critical acclaim and propelled the film to commercial success.[23] For this role, Simha won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 62nd National Film Awards, announced on March 24, 2015, with the ceremony held on May 3, 2015, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.[24] The accolade, presented by President Pranab Mukherjee, significantly boosted his career, opening doors to lead and supporting roles while establishing him as a go-to actor for complex antagonists; Simha later described it as an "incentive to continue good work."[25] Between 2015 and 2017, Simha expanded his repertoire across genres, taking on lead and supporting parts that highlighted his versatility. His Telugu debut came with a cameo in the romantic comedy Size Zero.) In Seenu Ramasamy's rural drama Idam Porul Yaeval, he played a supporting role alongside Vijay Sethupathi, contributing to the film's exploration of land disputes and social issues.[26] He stepped into a lead role in the fantasy action thriller Urumeen, portraying a character across multiple timelines linked by revenge, where critics noted his natural handling of diverse shades despite the film's ambitious narrative.[27] In 2016, his performance as Jagan in Karthik Subbaraj's ensemble drama Iraivi—examining male-female dynamics—earned acclaim for its emotional nuance and restraint, with reviewers highlighting his chemistry with co-stars like Anjali.[28] That year also saw him reprise his villainous role as Vatti Raja in the Telugu remake of Neram titled Run.[29] By 2017, roles in films like Thiruttu Payale 2 further demonstrated his range in thrillers, blending action and drama. Critics across these works praised Simha's adaptability in comedy, drama, and thrillers, cementing his status as a prominent character actor, though he expressed concerns about typecasting into intense or villainous parts post-award, stating he could "never be a romantic hero."[30]2018–2025: Established roles
During this period, Bobby Simha solidified his position in the South Indian film industry by taking on pivotal ensemble and antagonistic roles in high-profile, multi-language productions, transitioning from lead characters to supporting parts in big-budget spectacles. In 2018, he portrayed Hari, a key ally to the protagonist, in Pa Ranjith's Tamil action drama Kaala, starring Rajinikanth, which highlighted his ability to blend intensity with camaraderie in a socially charged narrative.[31] The following year, Simha played the menacing antagonist Michael in Karthik Subbaraj's Petta, again opposite Rajinikanth, where his portrayal of a ruthless gang leader contributed to the film's commercial success and marked his growing affinity for villainous arcs in mainstream Tamil cinema.[32] Expanding into Telugu cinema, Simha delivered notable performances in action-comedies and thrillers, often as authoritative figures driving the plot. He essayed the role of IPS officer K. Raghu Nayak in the 2021 Telugu film Gully Rowdy, directed by G. Nageswara Reddy, adding depth to the rowdy-hero dynamic with his commanding presence.[33] In 2023, he appeared as Bhaarava in Prashanth Neel's pan-India blockbuster Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, a high-octane action saga led by Prabhas, where his ensemble contribution underscored his versatility across linguistic boundaries.[34] That same year, Simha featured in the Telugu hit Waltair Veerayya, directed by Bobby, playing a supporting role that complemented the film's mass-appeal entertainer format alongside Chiranjeevi.[35] Simha's 2022 output included the Tamil-Kannada bilingual 777 Charlie, directed by Kiranraj K., where he played Vamsi Nandhan, a character entangled in an emotional journey with a stray dog, earning praise for his nuanced emotional range in this critically acclaimed adventure drama.[36] He also starred in the Tamil thriller Mahaan, again under Karthik Subbaraj's direction, portraying a layered role in this multi-generational crime saga led by Chiyaan Vikram.[37] By 2024, Simha continued his trajectory in ensemble-driven epics, playing CBI officer Pramod Krishnaswamy in S. Shankar's Indian 2 (titled Hindustani 2 in Hindi), a vigilante action sequel starring Kamal Haasan, where his investigative role added procedural tension to the narrative.[34] He also appeared in the historical drama Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad, depicting events from the 1948 Hyderabad integration, contributing to its portrayal of socio-political turmoil.[34] In 2025, he starred in the Tamil action film Non Violence, alongside Metro Shirish and Yogi Babu.[38] Looking ahead, Simha reprises Pramod Krishnaswamy in the trilogy closer Indian 3: War Mode, directed by Shankar, promising intensified action sequences.[39] He leads the action thriller Thadai Udai, directed by N.S. Rakesh, blending urban and rural elements in a story of conflict and resolution.[40] Furthermore, Seerum Puli, a biopic on LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran directed by Venkatesh Kumar G., sees Simha in the titular role, exploring the controversial figure's life amid ongoing production challenges.[41] This phase reflects Simha's evolution from National Award-winning indie acclaim to antagonist and key supporting roles in pan-Indian blockbusters, enhancing his industry stature through collaborations with auteurs like Shankar, whose vision for vigilante themes prominently features him.[42] His selective choices in multi-starrer formats have amplified his reach, balancing commercial viability with character-driven depth.Works
Tamil
Bobby Simha began his acting career in Tamil cinema with minor roles in 2012, gradually transitioning to prominent supporting and antagonistic characters. His notable breakthrough came with the 2014 film Jigarthanda, where he played the antagonist Sethu.[43] He has since appeared in over 30 Tamil films, often in supporting roles alongside major stars like Vijay, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan.[44]| Year | Title | Role Type | Director | Key Co-Stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi | Supporting | Balaji Mohan | Siddharth, Amala Paul | Minor role as Rashmi's boyfriend. |
| 2012 | Pizza | Cameo | Karthik Subbaraj | Vijay Sethupathi, Remya Nambeesan | Brief appearance. |
| 2013 | Soodhu Kavvum | Supporting | Nalan Kumarasamy | Vijay Sethupathi, Ashok Selvan | Portrayed a kidnapper. |
| 2013 | Naan Rajavaga Pogiren | Supporting | Ram K. Chandran | Starring Natraj | Antagonist role. |
| 2014 | Jigarthanda | Supporting Antagonist | Karthik Subbaraj | Siddharth, Lakshmi Menon | As Assault Sethu; critically acclaimed performance.[43] |
| 2015 | Kaaki Sattai | Supporting | Balaji Mohan | Siddharth, Prayaga Martin | |
| 2015 | Urumeen | Lead | Mukesh | Kalaiyarasan, Reshma Pasupuleti | Dual roles as Selva and Chezhiyan. |
| 2015 | Papanasam | Supporting | Kamal Haasan | Kamal Haasan, Gautami | |
| 2016 | Theri | Supporting | Atlee | Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu | |
| 2016 | Sethupathi | Supporting | S. U. Arun Kumar | Vijay Sethupathi, Remya Nambeesan | |
| 2016 | Iraivi | Supporting | Sharath | Vijay Sethupathi, Anjali | |
| 2016 | Remo | Supporting | Bakkiyaraj Kannan | Sivakarthikeyan, Keerthy Suresh | |
| 2016 | Kavalai Vendam | Supporting | R. V. Babu | Jiiva, Kajal Aggarwal | |
| 2016 | Ko 2 | Supporting | R. S. Durai Senthilkumar | Dhanush, Rakul Preet Singh | As Kumaran. |
| 2016 | Bangalore Naatkal | Supporting | Bhargava | Arya, Rana Daggubati | Remake of Telugu film Bangalore Days. |
| 2016 | Meera Jaakirathai | Supporting | M. Rathnavelu | Jai, Narain | |
| 2017 | Adhe Kangal | Supporting | Rohin Venkatesan | Kalaiyarasan, Janani Iyer | |
| 2017 | Paambhu Sattai | Supporting | K. S. Ravikumar | Attakathi Dinesh, Bindu Madhavi | As Dakshna. |
| 2017 | Karuppan | Supporting | Pa. Ranjith | Vijay Sethupathi, Lakshmi Menon | As Kathir. |
| 2017 | Thiruttu Payale 2 | Supporting | S. Baskar | Prasanna, Chaithra | As Inspector Selvam. |
| 2018 | Saamy Square | Supporting | Hari | Vikram, Trisha | Dubbed in Telugu as Saamy. |
| 2019 | Petta | Supporting | Karthik Subbaraj | Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi | Dubbed in Telugu and Hindi. |
| 2019 | Agni Devi | Supporting | J. Manimaran | Steve Dorairaj, Aishwarya Bhaskaran | Remade in Telugu as Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya (no direct involvement). |
| 2020 | Putham Pudhu Kaalai | Supporting | Sudha Kongara et al. | Anthology cast including M.S. Bhaskar | Segment in anthology film. |
| 2022 | Mahaan | Supporting | Karthik Subbaraj | Vikram, Dhruv Vikram | Dubbed in Telugu. |
| 2023 | Vasantha Mullai | Supporting | Prabhakaran | Natraj, Roshni Prakash | Dubbed in Telugu as Vasantha Kokila. |
| 2023 | Thugs | Supporting | Ganapathy Balamurugan | Santhanam, Priya Bhavani Shankar | Dubbed in Telugu as Konaseema Thugs. |
| 2023 | Viduthalai Part 1 | Supporting | Vetrimaaran | Vijay Sethupathi, Soori | |
| 2023 | Jigarthanda DoubleX | Supporting | Karthik Subbaraj | Raghava Lawrence, S.J. Suryah | Sequel to Jigarthanda. |
| 2023 | Vallavanukkum Vallavan | Supporting | Sivappu Manimaran | Santhanam, M.S. Bhaskar | |
| 2025 | Thadai Udai | Supporting | D. Sivakumar | Vimal, Nivetha Thomas | Released October 31, 2025. |
| 2024 | Indian 2 | Supporting | S. Shankar | Kamal Haasan, Siddharth | As CBI officer; dubbed in Telugu as Bharateeyudu 2. |
| 2024 | Non Violence | Supporting | Ananda Krishnan | Yogi Babu, Aditi Balan | |
| 2025 | Indian 3 | Supporting (upcoming) | S. Shankar | Kamal Haasan, Siddharth | Continuation of the Indian series; in post-production as of November 2025.[35] |
Telugu
Simha entered Telugu cinema in 2016 with supporting roles, often through remakes and dubs of his Tamil films. He gained prominence with antagonistic and key supporting parts in high-profile projects like Salaar.[45] By 2024, he had featured in around 15 Telugu films, including multilingual releases.[46]| Year | Title | Role Type | Director | Key Co-Stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada | Supporting | Venu Sriram | Nikhil Siddhartha, Hebah Patel | |
| 2016 | Oopiri | Supporting | Vamsi Paidipally | Nagarjuna, Karthi | Telugu remake of Tamil Thozha. |
| 2017 | Rarandoi Veduka Chudham | Supporting | Kalyan Krishna | Nani, Lavanya Tripathi | |
| 2017 | A .. Aa | Cameo | Trivikram Srinivas | Nani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu | |
| 2018 | Saamy | Supporting | Hari | Vikram, Trisha | Dub of Tamil Saamy Square. |
| 2018 | Hello Guru Prema Kosame | Supporting | Vivek Athreya | Ram Pothineni, Anupama Parameswaran | |
| 2019 | Brochevarevarura | Supporting | Vivek Athreya | Sree Vishnu, Nivetha Thomas | |
| 2019 | Love Game | Supporting | Balaji Mohan | Harish Kalyan, Aditi Rao Hydari | Dub/remake elements from Tamil. |
| 2020 | Disco Raja | Supporting | Vi Anand | Vishwak Sen, Nabha Natesh | |
| 2021 | Gully Rowdy | Supporting | B. V. Nandini Reddy | Sree Vishnu, Pooja Jhaveri | |
| 2022 | Ammu | Supporting | KC Narasimha Reddy | Adivi Sesh, Eesha Rebba | |
| 2022 | 777 Charlie | Supporting | Kiranraj K | Rakshit Shetty, Sangeeta Sornalingam | Kannada original, dubbed in Telugu. |
| 2022 | Liger | Special Appearance | Puri Jagannadh | Vijay Deverakonda, Ananya Panday | |
| 2023 | Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Supporting Antagonist | Prashanth Neel | Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran | As Bhaarava. |
| 2023 | Waltair Veerayya | Supporting | Bobby | Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja | |
| 2024 | Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad | Supporting | Yaata Satyanarayana | Anasuya Bharadwaj, Vedhika | Historical drama; also released in Hindi and other languages.[47] |
| 2024 | Bharateeyudu 2 | Supporting | S. Shankar | Kamal Haasan, Siddharth | Dub of Tamil Indian 2. |
| 2025 | Indian 3 | Supporting (upcoming) | S. Shankar | Kamal Haasan, Siddharth | Multilingual release planned. |
| 2025 | Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam | Supporting Antagonist (upcoming) | Prashanth Neel | Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran | Sequel to Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire; as Bhaarava; scheduled for December 2025. |
Malayalam
Simha's foray into Malayalam cinema started with the 2013 bilingual film Neram, where he played an antagonist. He has since taken on supporting roles in about 10 films, often collaborating with prominent directors in the industry.[48]| Year | Title | Role Type | Director | Key Co-Stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Neram | Antagonist | Alphonse Puthren | Nivin Pauly, Nazriya Nazim | Bilingual (Tamil/Malayalam); comic villain role. |
| 2014 | Beware of Dogs | Lead | Vishnu Sivaprasad | Sreenath Bhasi, Shekhar Menon | |
| 2016 | Action Hero Biju | Supporting | Abrid Shameel | Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel | |
| 2018 | Kammara Sambhavam | Supporting | Jithin Jithu | Dileep, Manju Pillai | |
| 2018 | Rosapoo | Cameo | Vinu Joseph | Biju Menon, Neeraj Madhav | |
| 2018 | Ladoo | Supporting | Arun K. David | Basil Joseph, Shruti Ramachandran | Anthology film. |
| 2019 | Porinju Mariam Jose | Supporting | Joshiy | Joju George, Chemban Vinod Jose |