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).
Soubin Shahir | |
|---|---|
 Soubin in 2019 | |
| Born | 12 October 1983 Fort Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Spouse | Jamia Zaheer (m. 2017) |
| Children | 1 |
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.
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 July 7, 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.[as of?]
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
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
As actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Vietnam Colony | Child artist | |
| Pappayude Swantham Appoos | |||
| 1993 | Kabooliwala | ||
| 2002 | Kaiyethum Doorath | Bus Passenger | Cameo appearance |
| 2005 | Pandipada | Peacock Man in Function | |
| 2010 | 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 Republic | Althaf | |
| 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 | Drug addict | Cameo appearance; directorial debut | |
| Solo | Pattu | ||
| Shekhar's friend at his birthday party | Tamil film; special appearance in the song "Thoovanam" | ||
| Mayaanadhi | Sameera's Ikka | Cameo appearance | |
| 2018 | Street Lights | Subin | |
| Carbon | Aanakkaran Rajesh | ||
| Rosapoo | Sajeer | ||
| Sudani from Nigeria | Majeed | ||
| Kuttanadan Marpappa | Freddy | ||
| Mohanlal | Mr. Who | ||
| Mangalyam Thanthunanena | Himself | Special appearance | |
| 2019 | Kumbalangi Nights | Saji | |
| Mera Naam Shaji | Shaji | ||
| Oru Yamandan Premakadha | Vicky | ||
| Virus | Unnikrishnan | ||
| Ambili | Ambili | ||
| Vikruthi | Sameer | ||
| Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 | Subramanian / Chuppan | ||
| Valiyaperunnal | Hanumanth Sheonayi | ||
| 2020 | Trance | Mathew Thomas (Mathaai) | |
| Halal Love Story | Azad | ||
| 2021 | Irul | Alex | |
| Meow | Dusthackeer | ||
| Churuli | Mayiladumparambil 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 |
As voice actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Valatty | Haridas/Karidas |
As director
| Year | Title | Production company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Parava | Anwar Rasheed Entertainments | Debut as a director |
| 2025 | Othiram Kadakam | TBA |
As producer
| 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.
- 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.