| Abu Salim | |
| Birth Date: | 1956 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Malabar district, Madras State (present day Wayanad, Kerala), India |
| Years Active: | 1976–present |
| Children: | 2 |
Abu Salim (born 11 May 1956) is an Indian film actor, bodybuilder, and retired police officer, who works predominantly in the Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. He has mostly played villain roles.[1]
Abu Salim was born as the second son among six children to Kunhammed and Fathima at Kalpetta in Wayanad district. He had his primary education from S. K. M. J. High School, Kalpetta.
Salim developed an interest in bodybuilding after being inspired by the work of actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he considers his role model. He has won several bodybuilding titles, including Mr. Calicut in 1981, Mr. Kerala in 1982, Mr. South India three times (in 1983, 1986, and 1987), and Mr. India twice (in 1984 and 1992). He served as a sub-inspector in the Kerala Police and retired in 2012.[2] Salim has trained in some kalaripayattu and holds a black belt in shotokan-style karate.[3]
Salim made his film debut in 1978 with Rajan Paranja Kadha. He played a significant role in the Ranjith-directed Prajapathi. In the 2015 crime film Loham, he portrayed a character inspired by the looks of Dwayne Johnson, which was a departure from his usual roles, as it was a positive character. In the same year, he played Stalin Mammali, the father of Jayasurya's character, in the comedy film Amar Akbar Anthony, performing a humorous character.[2]
He married Ummukulsu on 23 May 1982.[4] The couple has a daughter, Sabitha and a son, Sanu Salim. His daughter lives in Wollongong, Australia with her husband and children. His son runs a restaurant in Kalpetta, a media studio in Kozhikode and a packet food manufacturing company in Kochi.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Rajan Paranja Kadha | ||
| 1988 | Puravrutham | ||
| 1990 | Brahma Rakshass | Gunda | |
| 1991 | Kalari | Police officer | |
| 1992 | Aayushkalam | Peter | |
| Johnnie Walker | |||
| 1993 | Yadhavam | ||
| 1994 | Rudraksham | ||
| Cabinet | Goonda | ||
| Vishnu | |||
| Saadaram | |||
| Pingami | Muthu | ||
| 1995 | Street | Goonda | |
| Boxer | Hebro Daniel | ||
| 1996 | Rajaputhran | Karunan | |
| Yuvathurki | Jackson | ||
| Patanayakan | Phayalwan | ||
| Indraprastham | Goonda | ||
| 1997 | The Car | Ambrose | |
| Guru Sishyan | Vasu | ||
| Kudamattam | |||
| 1998 | Sooryavanam | Akram | |
| 1999 | Pallavur Devanarayanan | ||
| Stalin Sivadas | Keshu | ||
| Captain | Keshavankutty | ||
| Panchapandavar | |||
| Pattabhishekam | |||
| Red Indians | Pokken | ||
| 2000 | Rapid Action Force | Goonda | |
| Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum | Selvam | ||
| The Gang | Life Guard | ||
| Darling Darling | |||
| 2001 | Ee Nadu Innalevare | ||
| Sraavu | |||
| Unnathangalil | Prabhu | ||
| 2003 | Mizhi Randilum | Srada's husband | |
| C.I.D. Moosa | CI George | ||
| 2004 | Vesham | ||
| Wanted | |||
| Vismayathumbathu | Inspector Ravi | ||
| 2005 | Thommanum Makkalum | Manikyan | |
| Chandrolsavam | Kelu | ||
| Bus Conductor | |||
| Police | Prisoner | ||
| Pauran | |||
| Ben Johnson | Abu | ||
| Rajamanikyam | Goonda | ||
| 2006 | 9 KK Road | Varkey | |
| Prajapathi | Krishnankutty | ||
| Yes Your Honour | CI Philp Mathew | ||
| 2007 | Nanma | Ayappan | |
| Kaiyoppu | Circle Inspector | ||
| Inspector Garud | Karinchantha Vasu | ||
| Panthaya Kozhi | Manikyam | ||
| Black Cat | Kishore | ||
| Hallo | Hameed | ||
| Mission 90 Days | DSP Sivaji | ||
| 2008 | Roudram | CI Hamsa | |
| Chempada | |||
| Parunthu | Prabhakaran | ||
| 2009 | Pramukhan | ||
| Chattambinadu | |||
| [Ee Pattanathil Bhootham] | |||
| Loudspeaker | Goonda | ||
| 2010 | Brahmasthram | Ramachandran | |
| Penpattanam | |||
| Valiyangadi | Police Officer Prathapan | ||
| Shikkar | DYSP Karunakaran | ||
| Thanthonni | Goonda | ||
| Ringtone | Gopi | ||
| College Days | SI Vaasu | ||
| Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu | Eshwara Varma | ||
| Drona 2010 | |||
| 2011 | Manushyamrugam | Prisoner | |
| Collector | CI Xavior | ||
| Ulakam Chuttum Valiban | SP Krishnakumar | ||
| Venicile Vyapari | Abdhu | ||
| 2012 | Govindan | ||
| Mayamohini | Paili | ||
| My Boss | Vasu | ||
| 2013 | Kutteem Kolum | Shanavas | |
| Blackberry | |||
| Housefull | |||
| Nadodimannan | Kannappan | ||
| Immanuel | Chandy | ||
| D Company | Kartha | ||
| Ladies and Gentleman | Vinod | ||
| Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus | Udumbu Salim | ||
| 2014 | Rajadhi Raja | Sandeep | |
| 2015 | Bhaskar The Rascal | Suresh | |
| Ivan Maryadaraman | Rudran | ||
| Loham | Ali Imran | ||
| Amar Akbar Anthony | Stalin Mammali | ||
| 2016 | Kasaba | Pazhani | |
| Welcome to Central Jail | Prisoner Gopalan | ||
| 2017 | Pretham Und Sookshikkuka | ||
| Oru Cinemakkaran | Ganeshan | ||
| 2018 | Lolans | ||
| Uncle | |||
| Johny Johny Yes Appa | Stephen | ||
| 2019 | Pattabhiraman | Johnson | |
| Mask | Subair | ||
| Edakkad Battalion 06 | [5] | ||
| 2020 | Power Star | ||
| 2021 | One | Jayakrishnan | |
| 2022 | Karnan Napoleon Bhagath Singh | [6] | |
| Bheeshma Parvam | Shivankutty | [7] | |
| Kenkemam | Police officer | ||
| Kaduva | Benjamin | ||
| Gold | Timber Brother | ||
| 2023 | Pookkaalam | Venu | [8] |
| Pulimada | Kambikkuttan | [9] | |
| 2024 | Qalb | [10] | |
| Gangs of Sukumara Kurup | Sukumara Kurup | [11] | |
| Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam | [12] | ||