Soubin Shahir (born 12 October 1983) is an Indian actor, director and producer who primarily works in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut with Annayum Rasoolum (2013). Following his breakthrough with Premam (2015), he played the lead in Sudani from Nigeria (2018), which won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor. Soubin's notable roles came with the commercially successful films Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Manjummel Boys (2024).
Early life
Soubin was born and raised in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. He has a brother and sister. His father Babu Shahir was an assistant director and production controller who had worked in films such as Manichithrathazhu, Godfather, In Harihar Nagar among others.
Career Soubin started his film career as an assistant director in the industry with Fazil's Kaiyethum Doorath (2002) in which he also worked as an actor. He also worked as an assistant director for Siddique's Chronic Bachelor (2003). He assisted directors like Rafi-Mecartin, P. Sukumar, Santhosh Sivan, Rajeev Ravi, and Amal Neerad. He got a breakthrough role with Alphonse Putharen's Premam (2015) where he played the role of a PT teacher. This led to his popularity as an actor in the industry. His popular roles include in films Charlie (2015), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Kali (2016), Darvinte Parinamam (2016), Kammatipaadam (2016), Anuraga Karikkin Vellam (2016), Mayanadhi (2017), Comrade in America – CIA (2017), and Kumbalangi Nights. His first full lead role was in the film Sudani from Nigeria (2018) for which he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor.S.R. Praveen (27 February 2019). "Kerala State film awards: ‘Kanthan...’, 'Sudani from Nigeria' win honours" . The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
In 2024, he played the part of Siju David aka "Kuttan" in Manjummel Boys. He also produced the movie. It went on to receive critical acclaim and set several box-office records, becoming the highest grossing Malayalam film, and the first film from the industry to earn more than ₹200 crore. He was arrested on 7 July 2025, in connection with a ₹7 crore financial fraud case related to the film. The arrest was procedural following a summons for questioning, and he was released shortly after on anticipatory bail granted by the Kerala High Court. The case was filed by a UAE-based investor, Siraj Valiyathura Hameed, who alleged that despite investing ₹7 crore under a profit-sharing agreement promising 40% of the film's earnings, he received only a small fraction of the returns after the film's huge commercial success. The police have charged Soubin and his associates with cheating, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds, and the investigation is ongoing.
He is also a partner in Parava Films, a production company that has produced hits like Manjummel Boys.
In 2025, Coolie marked his first full-length role appearance in Tamil cinema. His acting and dancing in the song "Monica" was well received.
Media image Soubin's performance in Kumbalangi Nights is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion.
Personal life
On 16 December 2017, he married his fiancée Jamia Zaheer. Jamia is a marketing professional, based in Kochi. The couple has a son born in May 2019.
Filmography
As actor Year Title Role Notes1992Vietnam Colony Child artistPappayude Swantham Appoos1993Kabooliwala2002Kaiyethum DoorathBus Passenger Cameo appearance 2005PandipadaPeacock Man in Function2010 Body Guard College Student 2011 Urumi Tribal Gang Member 2012 Da Thadiya Himself Cameo appearance 2013 Annayum Rasoolum Collin Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty Mattanchery Martin 5 Sundarikal Poovalan Anthology film; Segment: Kullante Bharya 2014 Masala RepublicAlthaf Iyobinte Pusthakam Ivan's Henchman 2015 Chandrettan Evideya Sumesh Premam Shivan Sir Loham Street Rowdy Rani Padmini Madan Charlie Sunikuttan 2016 Maheshinte Prathikaaram Crispin Hello Namasthe Abu Kali Prakashan Darvinte Parinamam Willy Mudhugauv Kumari Kammatipaadam Karate Biju Happy Wedding Matrimony Consultant Anuraga Karikkin Vellam Fakru/Fakrudheen Popcorn Milton 2017 Comrade in America – CIA Joemon Achayans Qi Parava DirectorCameo appearance; directorial debut SoloPattu Shekhar's friend at his birthday party Tamil film; special appearance in the song "Thoovanam"MayaanadhiSameera's IkkaCameo appearance 2018 Street Lights Subin CarbonAanakkaran Rajesh Rosapoo Sajeer Sudani from Nigeria Majeed Kuttanadan Marpappa Freddy Mohanlal Mr. Who Mangalyam ThanthunanenaHimselfSpecial appearance 2019 Kumbalangi Nights Saji Mera Naam ShajiShajiOru Yamandan PremakadhaVickyVirus UnnikrishnanAmbiliAmbili VikruthiSameer Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Subramanian / Chuppan Valiyaperunnal Hanumanth Sheonayi 2020Trance Mathew Thomas (Mathaai) Halal Love StoryAzad2021IrulAlexMeowDusthackeerChuruliMayiladumparambil Joy 2022 Bro Daddy Happy Pinto Kallan D`Souza D’Souza Bheeshma Parvam Ajas Ali Third World Boys Soubin CBI 5: The Brain Paul Meijo / Sandeep / Manzoor Jack N' Jill Kuttaps Ela Veezha Poonchira PC Madhu Gold Mittu 2023 Djinn Dhanapalan Romancham Jibin Madhavan Vellari Pattanam K.P Suresh Ayalvaashi Thaju Live Sriram King of Kotha Suitcase Leslie Cameo appearance 2024 Manjummel Boys Siju David "Kuttan" Also producer Nadikar Bala 2025 Pravinkoodu Shappu Kannan Machante Maalakha Sajeevan Coolie Dayalan "Dayal"/Dilip Tamil film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Unnamed Cameo appearance Paathirathri CPO Hareesh 2026 Khalifa: The Ruler Ahmed Ali's right-hand Cameo appearance
As voice actor Year Title Role Notes2023 Valatty Haridas/Karidas
As director +List of films directed Year Title Production company Notes 2017 Parava Anwar Rasheed Entertainments Debut as a director
As producer +List of films produced Year Title Production company Notes 2024 Manjummel Boys Parava Films Debut production
Accolades 2018: Asianet Film Award Special Jury Mention – Udaharanam Sujatha & Parava. 2018: Vanitha Film Award for Best Debut Director – Parava.(in Malayalam) 2019: Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor – Sudani from Nigeria 2019: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Malayalam – Sudani from Nigeria 2020: Asianet Film Award for Best Actor (Special Jury Mention) – Kumbalangi Nights. 2020: Vanitha Film Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kumbalangi Nights. 2024 : Kerala State Film Award for Best Film - Manjummel Boys 2024 : Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actor - Manjummel Boys
Controversy On July 2024, The Enforcement Directorate is investigating money laundering allegations related to the Malayalam movie Manjummel Boys. A case has been registered, and notices have been issued to the film's producers and actors Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony.
References
External links