Early Life and Origin
Dragan “Bjela” Bjelogrlić was born 10. October 1963. in Opovo in Vojvodina, at the time of Serbia in Serbia as part of SFR Yugoslavia. His family comes from eastern Herzegovina; The grandfathers moved to Banat after the First World War. When Dragan was two years old, the family moved to Belgrade, and he grew up in the settlement of Mirijevo. He finished primary and secondary school there and studied construction for two years before enrolling in the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade (FDU). He graduated in acting in 1989. Even as a teenager, he conquered the world of acting, interpreting the partisan courier Sava Jovanović Sirogojnog in the film “Boško Buha” (1978).
Family life
Bjelogrlić is Married to his wife Maja Bjelogrlić (b. 1996) with whom he has two children – daughter mia and son Aleksey. In the conversations, he states that his family is his biggest support and that between filming he prefers to stay in his house in the village of Baranda near Pančevo.
acting career
Breakthrough with “Better Life” and Roles in Films
He gained mass popularity at the end of the 1980s when he portrayed the character of Slobodan “Boba” Popadić in a comedy TV series “Better Life” (1987 – 1990). During the 1990s, he became one of the protective faces of Serbian cinematography thanks to his roles in films:
- “Black Bomber” (1992) – interprets the engaged radio presenter Crno.
- “Beautiful villages” (1996) – a war drama that further affirmed him.
- “Wounds” (1998) – The character of Kura, an unscrupulous gangster.
- “Come back” (2007) – a television drama starring Exera.
- “Tom” (2021) – a film about the singer Tomi Zdravković, who achieved great success as a producer and director; After five weeks of showing, more than 700 000 tickets in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
director and production work
In the middle of the 1990s, Bjelogrlić founded a production company with his brother Goran Cobra film. Since then, in addition to acting, he has devoted himself to directing and production:
- “Montevideo, God saw you!” (2010) – a historical film about the Yugoslav national football team based on the novel Vlade Stanković. Dragan Bjelogrlić signs the direction.
- “Montevideo, see you” (2014) – a sequel directed by the co-writer.
- “Shadows over the Balkans” / “Shadows over the Balkans” – a television series of which he is the creator, director and actor (detective Tanasijević). In 2020, the series became First Serbian Series Bought to Show on Amazon Prime.
- “Guardians of the Formula” (2023) – internationally acclaimed film about the nuclear disaster in Vinča; Bjelogrlić is a director.
Television and theater engagements
In addition to film, Bjelogrlić plays in numerous television series and theater performances. After completing his studies, he founded a small theater company with his colleagues and they produced the play “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”. He played other important roles in the theater, and during his career he performed in Almost 40 moviesa dozen series and 11 theater performances.
Academic career and awards
Dragan Bjelogrlić is full professor at the Faculty of Media and Communications (FMK) at the University of Singidunum, where he teaches and mentors the master program “Tv series”. He has won numerous awards, including:
- Two Grand Prix Awards “Celeto Tower” for the best male role at film meetings in Niš;
- Two “Golden Mimosas” at the Herceg Novi festival for the best male roles;
- Statuette “Freedom” at the Sopot Film Festival;
- more than 15 production awards and 20 international awards.
Political and social engagement
Bjelogrlić spoke publicly about the situation in Serbian society and in 2020 joined opposition protests against President Aleksandar Vučić, warning of restricting media freedoms. In August 2024. He became part of the media headlines due to the 2021 incident with director Predrag Antonijević – the court sentenced him to Six months probation sentence Due to violent behavior, which will not be carried out if he does not commit a new criminal offense in the next two years. Bjelogrlić apologized for the incident and continued to work on projects.
Personal information and life off screen
- age: Born on October 10 October 1963, Bjelogrlić has 62 years (State 25. January 2026)
- height: Different portals state that it is high 173 cm.
- Family: Wife Maja is an English teacher, and their children Mia and Aleksej do not appear in public often.
- Hobbies: He is a passionate car lover and fan of the Partizan football club. He spends his free time in Baranda, the village where he built a film studio.
Social media presence
Bjelogrlić does not keep official profiles on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. Most posts about his projects appear on the profiles of the production company Cobra film and on the official website of television networks. The media sometimes convey the statements he makes in interviews, but he personally does not communicate regularly with the audience through social networks.
Why does the public ask for information about Bjelogrlić?
Dragan Bjelogrlić belongs to the generation of actors who marked Serbian popular culture. The Croatian and Bosnian audience remembers him for his charismatic roles in series such as “Bolji život” and the films “Lepa sela lepo gore” and “Montevideo”. His success as a director and producer, especially with films about football and history (“Montevideo” series) and political thrillers (“Shadows over the Balkans”, “Guardians of Formula”), generates additional interest. In addition to professional achievements, the public is interested in his private life, height, family and views on current social topics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How old is Dragan Bjelogrlić?
He was born on October 10 October 1963. in the opov, so there is 62 years (State on 25 January 2026).
Who is Dragan Bjelogrlić’s wife?
His wife is Maja Bjelogrlić, English teacher. They got married in 1996 and have two children, Mia and Aleksej.
Where does Dragan Bjelogrlić live?
The family lives in Belgrade, but Bjelogrlić often stays in the village Baranda where he built a film studio.
How tall is Dragan Bjelogrlić?
According to the data of the portal Story.hr, is high about 173 cm.
What are the most famous films and series in which he acted or directed?
The most famous works include:
- Acting: “Boško Buha”, “Bolji život”, “Black Bomber”, “Lepa sela Lepo gore”, “Rane”, “Rodice will return” and “Toma”;
- Direction/production: “Montevideo, God saw you!”, “Montevideo, see you”, the series “Shadows over the Balkans” and the film “Guardians of Formula”.
Does he have official profiles on social networks?
There is no official personal profile. Information about his projects can be found on the website Cobra film and on television network profiles.
Conclusion
Dragan Bjelogrlić is one of the most famous filmmakers from the former Yugoslavia. He started acting as a boy, and later established himself as a director, producer and professor. Successes such as the series “Montevideo” and “Shadows over the Balkans” and the films “Lepa sela lepo gore”, “Rane” and “Tom” strengthened him as a creative person whose work follows a wide audience in the region. Although relatively little is known about his private life, it is clear that family, work on new projects and social engagement remain at the center of his interest. Followers of his career can look forward to future projects that, judging by their dedication and successes so far, will once again combine interesting stories, historical themes and strong characters.
Cover photo: Медија центар Београд, CC BY 3.0, Via Wikimedia Commons