Kunchacko Boban

Kunchacko Boban (born 2 November 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer.

He is referred to as Chackochan, and is called "chocolate boy", because of his romeo roles.

He works in the Malayalam film industry and has acted in more than 100 films in more than two decades.

He is a member of the Kunchacko family.

Kunchacko's debut was as a child in the film Dhanya (1981) produced by his father Boban Kunchacko.

He debuted as an adult leading role in Fazil's 1997 romantic drama Aniyathipraavu opposite Shalini, which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film till then, establishing him as a bankable actor overnight.

He graduated with first-class in B.Com from Sanatana Dharma College in 1997.

Being a sports enthusiast, he plays various games like cricket, table tennis, basketball and badminton, with badminton being the one he is best at.

He trained in Bharatanatyam in his childhood.

His debut film, Aniathipravu (1997), co-starring Shalini, and directed by Fazil, turned out to be the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and Kunchacko Boban's performance as Sudhi, the lead character was well received by young audiences and families.

The Kunchacko Boban - Shalini pair was considered one of the best star pairs of the Malayalam film industry.|

He appeared in a brief role in Harikrishnans (1998) starring Mohanlal and Mammootty, which was the top Malayalam box office grosser of the year.

Kunchacko and Shalini joined again in successful romantic films Nakshatratharattu (1998) and Niram (1999) and Prem Poojari (1999).

Following the success of Aniathipravu, Kunchacko Boban was cast in hit films such as Nakshathrathaarattu (1998), Mayilpeelikkavu (1998) and Niram (1999), which was among 1999's highest-grossing Malayalam films and songs of "Niram" are still very popular.

Niram (2000) was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.

His career took a setback after few box office failures during the mid-2000s.

The actor reunited with his debut film's director Fazil in Harikrishnans, where he played a cameo, which marked the reunion of Mohanlal and Mammootty after nine years and it was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.| Then he appeared in commercially successful films such as Priyam (2000), Sathyam Sivam Sundaram (2000), Dosth (2001), Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001) and Kalyanaraman (2002).

By then he had created a "romantic hero" image in Malayalam cinema, nevertheless, he also had success in other genres, as a villager in the comedy Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001) and as a son to a debt-ridden family in Kasthooriman (2003).

Kunchacko Boban married his fan-turned long-term sweetheart, Priya Ann Samuel, on April 2, 2005, at Little Flower Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Ernakulam.

In 2005, after his marriage, he took a break from films.

He took a break from films in 2006 and moved on to business.

He came back in 2009 with the comedy Gulumal: The Escape, a commercial success.

After his comeback, Kunchacko completely changed his chocolate boy and romantic hero image and he proved his versatility as an actor by doing various different roles.

In the comeback, he raised his stardom with commercially successful films and reestablished himself as one of the popular lead actors of Mollywood.

His roles in critically and commercially acclaimed films like Traffic (2011), How Old Are You? (2014), Take off (2017), Vettah (2016), Virus (2019), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Nayattu (2021), Pada (2022) and Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022) was widely appreciated.

He is also known for his dancing skills.

In 2016, Kunchacko produced the comedy drama film Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho through Udaya Studios, in the process of reviving the studio after a 30-year hiatus.

Kunchacko Boban has announced the movie 'Ariyippu' under the banner of Udaya Studios at the occasion of his Silver Jubilee celebration as hero and Platinum Jubilee celebration of Udaya Pictures.

He also launched another production house, Kunchacko Boban Productions, debuting with the movie Ariyippu.

Kunchacko Boban (also known as Chackochan) was born in a Syro Malabar Catholic family in Alappuzha, Kerala.

He hails from the Maliampurakal family, which is credited with owning the first film studio in Kerala, Udaya Studios, considered the ancestral home of the Malayalam film industry.

His great-grandfather, M. M. Chacko, started the first boat service in Kuttanadu.

He is the grandson of legendary film producer Kunchacko, who established Udaya Studios.

He is the grandnephew of Navodaya Appachan of Navodaya Studios.

Boban is a relative of Jijo Punnose, also a film director.

His father, Boban Kunchacko, was also an actor, director, and producer who was part of a few films produced by Udaya.

Kunchacko's mother Molly is a housewife and he has two younger sisters, Anu and Minu.

They became parents to Izahaak Boban Kunchacko, on April 16, 2019.

His son's baptism took place on 30 June 2019 and the event was attended by prominent personalities of the Malayalam film industry.

Kunchacko Boban was introduced into the Malayalam film industry by versatile director Fazil.