Anish John Kokken is an Indian actor who is well known for his antagonist role in various South Indian films such as KGF Chapter 1 and KGF Chapter 2. The actor has worked in several well-known Tamil and Telugu movies such as Bahubali: The Beginning (2015) and 1: Nenokkadine (2014). John is one of the highest-paid actors in the film industry. He debuted in the Malayalam film industry in 2007, with the film Kalabham as a Jihadi leader. The actor has been a part of 31 movies.
Wiki/Biography
Anish John Kokken was born on Friday, 27 March 1981 (age 41 years; as of 2022) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. John as a child was admitted to Our Lady of Nazareth High School, Bhayander, from where he completed his schooling. Upon the completion of his schooling, John’s interest took him to undertake Hotel Management and Catering studies. He completed his graduation in Hotel Management from Anjuman-i-Islam College.
John Kokken as a young child
Physical Appearance
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight (approx.): 80 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 44″, Waist: 34″, Biceps: 15″
Family & Caste
John Kokken belongs to a Keralite Roman Catholic family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is John Kokken, who was a professor by profession.
John Kokken, father of Anish John Kokken
His mother’s name is Thressiamma John Kokken. She was a nurse by profession and used to work in the middle-east.
Thressiamma John Kokken, mother of Anish John Kokken
He has a younger brother called Anderson Kokken.
John Kokken with his elder brother Anderson Kokken
Anish John Kokken with his brothers and father
Wife & Children
His ex-wife’s name is Meera Vasudevan, who is also an actress. They got married in 2012 and were separated in 2016.
Meera Vasudevan
His present wife’s name is Pooja Ramachandran who is an actress, model and a Video Jockey.
Pooja Ramachandran with her husband John Kokken
He also has a 7-year-old son named Ariha Kokken, whom John had from his first wife, Meera.
John’s 7-year-old son Ariha
Relationships/Affairs
Before getting married to Pooja Ramachandran, they both dated each other for a brief time.
Religion/Religious Views
Anish John Kokken follows Christianity and is a Roman Catholic.
Address
He resides at C/B Wing, Flat Number-7, Govind Nagarbhayander(W), Thane – 401101, Maharashtra.
Career
Career before making it to the big league
After completing his formal education in Hotel Management and Catering, John did several jobs at various well-known hotels, such as ITC Maratha Sheraton and Hyatt Regency, in Mumbai. John was just 23 years old when he got his first job. At the hotel, he used to work as a receptionist, and as a result of this, he came in contact with a lot of influential people. Owing to his tall and muscular physique, John began receiving a lot of offers for modelling and advertising. John decided to quit his job as a receptionist and started working at a well-paying call centre at IBM Daksh to save more money, so as to make a modelling portfolio, that requires a good amount of money.
His modelling career
In 2005, John sent his modelling portfolio to a renowned modelling magazine called, Gladrags, which is known to conduct Megamodel and Manhunt contests. John was selected as a contestant for the modelling magazine and he even made it to the list of a few finalists. After his selection in the Gladrags, John began receiving several offers for ramp walk modelling and even did several ads for several well-known companies such as Cadbury, Bajaj and Chungath Prince Jewellers. Before John could get his chance for the first ad, he had gone through roughly 1200 auditions. In an interview, John Stated,
One of the things I learnt while being a model in Mumbai was learning to accept rejections gracefully. I would have attended some 1200 auditions before I got selected for my 1st ad.”
The big ticket to enter the field of movies
In 2006, John Kokken received an offer to do an ad in South India, particularly Kerala. There while shooting for the ad, he came into the contact with several well-known South Indian movie producers and directors, and John got his big debut in the Malayalam movie, Kalabham. After the release of the film Kalabham, John came back to his hometown in Mumbai, where he continued his work in the field of modelling. In 2009, John got another opportunity to work alongside the famous South Indian actor Mamooty, in the film Love in Singapore.
John Kokken in the movie, Love in Singapore
John was given the role of a villain in the movie because of his humongous height, which he said suited him more to be a villain in the movies than to be a ramp walking model. In an interview, John said,
As a model I was considered too huge for the ramp due to which I couldn’t do a lot of designer shows. But this same aspect became my advantage in films as I used to play the bad guy in all the films and the South Indian Film Industry prefers villains who are tall and big. So here I was 6.2″ tall and a big muscular guy and they lapped me up. Am so very grateful to the South Indian Film Industry for all the career and fame I have today.”
In 2015, John was signed up for the famous film, Bahubali: The Beginning. He was shown as a soldier of the Kalakeya Army.
John in Bahubali The Begining
In 2018, John Kokken got another opportunity to work as one of the antagonists in the well-known film KGF; Chapter 1.
John Kokken in KGF Chapter 1
In 2021, John Kokken came to the spotlight for his role as, Vembuli, an antagonist in the film Sarpatta Parambarai, a movie that revolves around the sport of boxing.
John Kokken in the film Sarpatta Parambarai
The film’s director, Pa Ranjith, wanted John to be as furious as he possibly could be for the role and told John to take inspiration from the former Boxing World Champion, Mike Tyson. John while giving an interview said,
It was this Mike Tyson that director Pa Ranjith asked me to take inspiration from for the role of Vembuli in Sarpatta Parambarai. I needed to look like a monster in the ring. I tried to replicate his body language, the aggression, and the ferocity.”
John also played the role of one of the three antagonists in the film James. The film was released on 17 March 2022 and John’s acting was complemented by his fans.
John in the movie James
A master of South Indian languages
John Kokken has gained mastery over several different Indian languages. Being born and raised in Maharashtra, John is affluent in Marathi. He also knows English and Hindi. His mother tongue is Malayalam, which he is quite good at. John, while working in the South Indian films has acquired spoken skills in Tamil and Telugu as well. John in an interview recalled,
I have always had a flair for languages and having grown up in Mumbai I speak Hindi, Marathi and English fluently. Malayalam being my mother tongue I speak that too fluently. Working in the South I picked up Tamil, Telugu and Kannada along the way.”
He has worked in a lot of different South Indian languages films. His notable works are in the films, Inspector General (2009), Veeram (2014), Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Sarpatta Parambhai (2021), James (2022), and a lot more.
Web Series
In 2019, John acted as a police officer in the OTT based Crime-Drama series called Police Diary 2.0. His wife Pooja Ramachandran was also a part of the casting crew. The series was released on the Zee5 OTT platform.
John in the series, Police Diaries 2.0
In 2021, Anish John Kokken also acted in a web series called Ramyug. The series was based on the Hindu epic, Ramayana, and was directed by Kunal Kohli. The series was produced under the banner of R and R films. John in this series played the role of Indrajeet. The show was produced for MX Player.
John as Indrajeet from Ramyug
Controversy
In 2010, actor John Kokken accused, Padmakumar, the director of the film “Shikkar”. John said that the director was unfair to him during the shoot of the film, as he had cut short and limited John’s role in the film to just one scene. When John asked the director to edit the scene, the director blatantly refused to do so.
Car Collection
Anish John Kokken owns a BMW.
John Kokken with his BMW
Facts/Trivia
- John Kokken is affectionately called Vembuli, which is the name of his character in the movie Sarpatta Parambhai.
- John is also a fitness enthusiast. He is a staunch advocate of Yoga, and also encourages the adaptation of Yoga in our lives through his social media.
Anish John Kokken exercising
- John claims that Sanjay Dutt is his source of inspiration, as Sanjay inspires him to play the role of a villain in different movies.
John Kokken with Sanjay Dutt
- John Kokken is a pet lover. He has two dogs named Optimus and Trinity.
John with his pets, Optimus (Rottweiler) and Trinity
- John Kokken also knows how to speak Konkani. He learned the language when he lived in Goa for several years.
- He also has a keen interest in boxing. Therefore, he is also learning boxing.
- John has a dream to play a lead antagonist in the James Bond series.
- John Kokken is a vegetarian. He is also trying to become a vegan.
- John Kokken traces his roots back to the state of Kerala.
- Since his childhood, John had an interest in movies. While giving an interview, John said,
Well to be honest modelling happened by chance and acting just came along with it. I used to watch a lot of movies while growing up. I was very crazy about movies be it any language.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
