Kunchacko Boban Wiki, Age, Height, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Kunchacko Boban is an Indian actor and producer, who has predominantly worked in the Malayalam film industry. He is known as “Chackochan” and is affectionately referred to as the “Chocolate Boy” by his fans due to his romantic roles in the films. As of 2023, he has appeared in over 100 films.

Wiki/Biography

Kunchacko Boban was born on Tuesday, 2 November 1976 (age 47 years; as of 2023), in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. After completing his schooling, he enrolled at the St. Berchmans College in Changanassery, Kerala. Thereafter, he graduated with a first-class degree in B.Com from Santana Dharma College in Alappuzha, Kerala. Additionally, he displayed a passion for sports, excelling in cricket, table tennis and basketball, with a particular talent for badminton. Furthermore, he also received training in Bharatanatyam under Amrutham Gopinath during his childhood days.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Weight (approx.): 76 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Boban belongs to a Syro-Malabar Catholic family in Alappuzha, Kerala, that has roots in the Maliampurakal family, known for owning Kerala’s first film studio, Udaya Studios.

Parents & Siblings

Boban was born to Boban Kunchacko and Molly Boban. His father was a film producer, actor, director, and screenwriter, while his mother was a homemaker.

Boban has two younger sisters, Anu and Minu.

Wife & Children

Boban tied the knot with Priya Ann Samuel after a few years of courtship. Their wedding ceremony occurred on 2 April 2005, at the Little Flower Syro Catholic Church in Ernakulam. The couple has a son together, Izahaak Boban Kunchacko, who was born on 16 April 2019. The baptism of their son took place on 30 June 2019.

Other Relatives

Kunchacko, a prominent film producer in the Malayalam film industry and the founder of Udaya Studios is the grandfather of Boban.

He is the grandnephew of Navodaya Appachan (deceased), the founder of Navodaya Studios and a renowned film producer, director, and entrepreneur. Boban also shares a family connection with Jijo Punnose, who is also a film director.

Relationships/Affairs

Kunchacko first met Priya when she and her friends approached Boban for an autograph in the 90s. They dated each other till their marriage in 2005. ^[1]Times of India

Address

11 C, Abad Silver Crest, S C Bose Road, Jawahar Nagar, Kadavanthara, Kochi-682 020 ^[2]Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes

Signature/Autograph

Career

Film

Kunchacko Boban made his debut with the 1997 film Aniyathipraavu directed by Fazil and co-starring Shalini; however, he made his debut as a child actor with the film Dhanya, which was produced by his father in 1981. His film Aniyathipraavu became a massive hit and set new records in Malayalam cinema.

Later, he had a brief role in Harikrishnans (1998) which was the top-grossing Malayalam film of that year.

Kunchacko and Shalini teamed up again for successful romantic films like Nakshathrathaarattu (1998), Niram (1999), and Prem Poojari (1999). He also appeared in other significant box-office successful films like Priyam (2000), Sathyam Sivam Sundaram (2000), Dosth (2001), Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), and Kalyanaraman (2002).

Following his marriage in 2005, Boban decided to step away from the film industry for a while. He returned to acting in 2008 with a guest appearance in a song of the film Twenty: 20 and later appeared in Shafi’s film titled LolliPop. Boban made a comeback as an actor after he landed the role of a character named Ravi Verma in V. K. Prakash’s 2009 comedy film Gulumaal: The Escape, which was a commercial success.

His performances in critically acclaimed films like Traffic (2011), How Old Are You (2014), Vettah (2016), Take Off (2017), Virus (2019), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Nayattu (2021), Pada (2022), and Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022) received widespread appreciation. In 2015, Boban played a role in Dr. Biju’s film Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal also known as Birds with Large Wings, which shed light on the devasting impact of endosulfan pesticide usage on villages in Northern Kerala. This film gained international recognition and was showcased at many prestigious events such as the United Nations, The Toronto Film Festival, The New York Indian Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of India. Valia Chirakulla Pakshikal received the national award for the best film focusing on environmental preservation.

In 2016, Kunchacko Boban revived Udaya Pictures, the renowned Malayalam film production company, after 30 years of inactivity. He made his debut as a producer under this revived film label with the film Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho.

Television

Besides doing films, Boban has also appeared in many Television shows. He was a mentor on the 2018 reality show Nayika Nayakan. Boban has appeared as a special guest and hosted many award functions and shows like the Mazhavil Entertainment Awards (2019) and E-Classil Njanumund (2021). He was also the judge in the 2021 reality show ‘Funs Upon a Time’ and the 2023 show ‘Dancing Stars’.

Social Activism

Kunchacko Boban, apart from his work in films and television, also supports important social causes. In 2014, he started the Celebrity Cricket Club (C3) and many famous celebrities joined forces to help out with charity work. Then in 2015, Boban established a medical facility named Al Fasht, which is dedicated towards children with autism in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. ^[3]Emirates 24/7

Controversies

The Controversy Surrounding the Film Poster of “Nna Thaan Case Kodu”

Kunchacko’s film “Nna Thaan Case Kodu” sparked controversy after its poster release. The poster pictured potholes on roads of Kerala during the time when the state government was receiving criticism for the condition of the roads. The slogan on the poster read, “There are potholes on the road. But please come to the theatre.” The slogan led to many hate campaigns against the actor and the film led by the CPM party and its supporters. ^[4]Economic Times

Cyber Attacks After Poster Release of the Film “Chera”

During the release of the film Chera, Kunchacko faced a lot of criticism due to the poster of the film. The image on the poster displayed was similar to that of Jesus lying on his mother’s lap after being taken down from the cross, which led to Kunchacko facing cyber attacks and receiving backlash for the film. Many thought the film’s name Chera insulted Christian sentiments, and Kunchacko’s comment section was filled with hate comments. Some alleged that the aim of Malayalam cinema is to insult the faith of Christians. ^[5]Kerala Kaumudi

Awards, Honours, Achievements

• Asianet Film Award for Best Star Pair (shared with Shalini) for Niram in 1999.

• Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for his role in the film Ee Snehatheerathu in 2004.

• Kerala Film Critics Association Awards for Second Best Actor for Ee Snehatheerathu in 2004.

• Jayan Smaraka Award for Best Young Actor for the film Elsamma Enna Aankutty in 2010.

• NANA Film Awards for Special Jury Award for the film Elsamma Enna Aankutty in 2010.

• Kerala Kaumudi Awards for Youth Icon for various films in 2010.

• Vayalar Rama Varma Awards for Best Actor for the film Elsamma Enna Aankutty in 2010.

• Ramu Kariat Awards Popular Actor for various films in 2010.

• Mathrubhumi Film Awards for Best Star Pair for the film Sakudumbam Shyamala in 2010.

• Vanitha Film Awards Best Star Pair for Mummy & Me in 2010.

• Asianet Film Awards Best Star Pair for Mummy & Me in 2010.

• Amrita FEFKA Film Awards Yuva Keerthi Award for various films in 2011.

• Asianet Film Awards Youth Icon of the Year for various films in 2011.

• Amrita FEFKA Film Awards Popular Actor for Ordinary and Mallu Singh in 2012.

• Asianet Film Awards Special Jury Award for Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum and Romans in 2012.

• South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actor in a Negative Role (Malayalam) for the film Seniors in 2012.

• Jai Hind TV Awards for various films in 2013.

• Asianet Film Awards Youth Icon of the Year for various films in 2014.

• Film Life Awards Best Actor for the film Vettah in 2016.

• Asiavision Awards Man of the Year for Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho and Vettah in 2016.

• Queensland Indian International Film Festival Best Actor for the film Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal in 2017.

• North American Film Awards for the film Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho in 2017.

• Asianet Comedy Awards Versatile Actor for various films in 2017.

• Malayala Puraskar Samiti Best Actor for the films Take Off and Ramante Edanthottam in 2018.

• North American Film Awards Popular Hero of the Year for the films Take Off and Ramante Edanthottam in 2018.

• Vanitha Film Awards Best Family Hero for the films Take Off and Ramante Edanthottam in 2018.

• Asianet Film Awards Best Actor critics for the films Take Off, Ramante Edanthottam and Varnyathil Aashanka in 2018.

• CPC Cine Awards Special Honorary Award for Udaya Studios and its contribution towards Malayalam cinema in 2020

• Vanitha Film Awards Socially Responsible Actor for the film Virus in 2020

• South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actor Critics (Malayalam) for the film Anjaam Pathiraa in 2020

• Indian Film Institute Best Actor for the films Nna Thaan Case Kodu, Ariyippu and Pada in 2022

• Malayala Puraskar Samiti (2022) for Best Actor for the film Nna Thaan Case Kodu

• Kerala State Film Awards Special Jury Mention (Acting) for the film Nna Thaan Case Kodu in 2023

• SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) for the film ‘Nna Thaan Case Kodu’ at the South Indian International Movie Awards held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, in September 2023
  

  Kunchacko Boban with the SIIMA Critics Award 2023

Car Collection

• Toyota Vellfire

• Porsche Cayenne

• Mini Cooper S

• Land Rover Defender 110 ^[6]News 18
  

  Actor Kunchacko Boban’s Land Rover Defender

Facts/Trivia

• The Udaya Studios, belonging to Boban’s ancestors, holds a significant place in the history of the Malayalam film industry and is often regarded as this industry’s birthplace.

• Kunchacko’s grandfather was also a car enthusiast who owned a 1955 Studebaker Commander, registration number KRY 2464. The car has been with the family for over 60 years. ^[7]The Hindu

• Kunchacko Boban’s picture made it into the Karnataka State syllabus textbook in 2022. The image was sourced from his role as Raghunandan, a postman, in the film Oridathoru Postman. Boban posted about the matter on Instagram, adding a humorous comment. His post garnered numerous amusing comments and reactions. However, the Karnataka state education authorities clarified that the material the actor was discussing did not come from any of the government’s official textbooks. Sources in the government department commented,
  

  It is sourced from a book of a private publisher based out of Hubli. It is not part of the curriculum.” ^[8]The Time of India

• During his early years, Kunchacko got training and acquired skills in karate.

• He also appeared on the cover of Filmfare magazine in 1999.

• In his debut film Aniyathipravu, Kunchacko Boban didn’t provide his own voice for the character. Instead, Krishnachandran, who acted in the 1978 Malayalam film Rathinirvedam, lent his voice to Kunchacko Boban’s character in the film.

• Kunchacko’s all-time favourite food is Karimeen (fried fish).

• Kunchacko Boban’s film Padmini hit theatres on 24 July 2023 and achieved significant success. However, the film’s producer expressed his discontent on social media about how the Malayalam actor received a payment of Rs 2.5 crore for a 25-day shooting schedule while refraining from any Television interviews or promotional appearances. The producer wrote an Instagram post stating,
  

  But as a film maker and content creator it’s the theater response that matters and that’s where we needed the charm of stardom from its lead actor to get the first foot fall into theaters. For PADMINI, the lead actor who took home 2.5 crores gave zero TV interviews, participated in zero TV programs/promotions. The entire promotion plan and chart of the programs were rejected because the marketing consultant who was appointed by the actor’s wife made a verdict watching the raw footage of the movie. It’s the same S*** what happened to the last 2-3 producers of his movies. So someone has to talk and here we are.”

  Boban chose to remain silent regarding the issue and refrained from making any statements. ^[9]India Today

• On the 25th anniversary of Kunchacko’s debut film Aniyathipraavu, Boban purchased the Hero Honda Red bike that his character Sudhi used in the film. In an Instagram post, he wrote,
  

  The Bike is Back. After 25 years. Thank you all for all the love. Thank you Bony for keeping it immaculate. Thank you for making everything possible.” ^[10]The Times of India