Abu Salim

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 Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. He has mostly played negative roles.

Early life 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. Salim has trained in some kalaripayattu and holds a black belt in shotokan-style karate.

Career 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. 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.

Filmography

Malayalam 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 Innale Vare 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 MLA Mani: Patham Classum Gusthiyum Govindan Mayamohini Paili My Boss Vasu 2013 Kutteem Kolum Shanavas Proprietors: Kammath & Kammath 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 2020 Power Star Bheeshma Parvam Shivankutty Kenkemam Police officer Kaduva Benjamin Pulimada Kambikkuttan 2024 Qalb Gangs of Sukumara Kurup Sukumara Kurup Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam 2025 Painkili Sujithkumar Nellikkampoyil Night Riders Ex Soldier Vassappan 2026 Bhishmar Derby

Tamil Ratchagan (1997) Majaa (2005) Kara (2026) Magudam (2026)

Hindi Malamaal Weekly (2006) Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal (2012) Rangrezz (2013)

Telugu Devi (1999) Devi Putrudu (2001)