Jijoy Rajagopalan is an Indian film actor and international theater artist who has played the title role in British theater productions of Shakespeare’s plays. He has mainly worked in the Malayalam film industry and made his Tamil debut with the popular film Jai Bhim. Since 2014, Jijoy is also working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Acting at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
Wiki/Biography
Jijoy Pulikal Rajagopalan was born on Wednesday, September 1, 1976, in Iringalakuda, Kerala (age 45; as of 2021). His zodiac sign is Virgo. He studied at Sree Narayana High School in his hometown until 1992 and did his matriculation degree from Christ College, Iringalakuda, Kerala. Jijoy then attended Calicut University in Malappuram, Kerala, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also holds a BA in Theater Arts from Thrissur School of Drama. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Jijoy acted in a few films and serials before moving to Puducherry Central University, Karapet, Pondicherry to pursue his MA in Drama and Theater Arts and his MPhil. Apparently, the actor is a gold medalist in MA and MPhil.
appearance
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is PR Rajagopalan and mother’s name is KG Manghaladevi. Jijoy has two brothers: Binoy Pulikal Rajagopalan and Bejoy Pulikal Rajagopalan.
wife and children
Jijoy is married to Riya Mary Philip and the couple has a son named Karma Jijoy Pulikal.
Profession
theater
Jijoy acted in his first play “Yadhartha Velakkaran” in 1987 at SN High School in Iringalakuda, Kerala. Giljoy wrote and directed the show and his character is named Veerakaran. He went on to write further plays during his foundation year, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.
Jijoy Rajagopalan performs in the play
The artist initially worked in the theater at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi. Rajagopalan is not limited to India, he was also selected from a group of 21 people in a theater company with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The play is produced by the British Council and performed at the Swan Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. In 2005, Rajagopalan played Oberon and Theseus in the multilingual theatrical remake of the famous Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by British theater director Tim Supple. From April 2006 to December 2009, he toured five continents with the orchestra and performed more than 350 performances in the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan and other countries. The international artist said the exposure was a turning point in his acting career.
TV and movies
Jijoy entered the Malayalam industry in the 1990s with his first TV series “Innocent Kadhakal” (playing Sathyan) and has since acted in about 10 TV series. He made his first film Niram in Malayalam in 1999 and he also did two other films in the same year. Over the next few years, Rajagopalan went on to make about 40 films. In 2021, he made a splash by making his Tamil film debut with the critically acclaimed drama Jai Bhim. The actor plays a character named Rajesh Munnar in the film.
Jaijoy Rajagopalan as Jai Bhim
other
The actor made his debut as a dubbing artist in 2010, voicing the character of Jain Suriac Babu in the Malayalam film Shikkar. Since May 2014, Jijoy is also working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Maharashtra.
Facts/Trivia
- Apart from acting, Jijoy enjoys performing the Kerala martial art Kalaripayattu and listening to Carnatic music.
- In an interview, Rajagopalan revealed that he knew he wanted to be an actor from an early age. According to him, he developed an interest in acting and art through music and theatre. Jijoy was also active in drama and several plays while studying for preparatory studies. His performance reportedly eventually earned him the title “Kalaprathiba” and a seven-time Best Actor award in various college competitions. Talking about the same, Jijoy added,
I’m a performer; I’ve been that way my whole life. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education