Who Is Nikola Kojo

Nikola Kojo (born in Belgrade on 5 September 1967) is a Serbian actor, director, producer and television host. He first appeared on screen as a boy, and he gained wide popularity in the 1980s through his roles in the “Crazy Years” film series. Srđan Dragojević’s 1992 film “We Are Not Angels” established him among the best-known actors of his generation in the former Yugoslavia.

His best-known works include the films “Pretty Village, Pretty Flame,” “The Fourth Man” and “The Parade,” as well as the television series “Radio Mileva” and “Crisis.” In 2016 he made his directorial debut with the comedy “Herd.” Since 2023 he has hosted the Serbian version of the quiz show “The Weakest Link.”

Beyond film and television, the public also knows him for his outspoken views on social issues. This article follows his path from a boy with a violin to one of the region’s most recognizable acting faces.

Origins and Childhood

Nikola Kojo was born in Belgrade in 1967. He was named after his great-grandfather, who was an archpriest in Mostar. Because of his family’s Herzegovinian roots, one Herzegovinian outlet described him as a Belgrade native of Herzegovinian origin.

His first contact with the arts was not acting but music. As a child he played the violin and was a member of the Radio Television Belgrade orchestra. According to Kurir, he ended up in an acting class by chance and then joined a children’s drama group. He later continued working in Mika Aleksić’s group.

His parents reportedly wanted him to choose a more serious profession. Even so, they did not forbid him from becoming an actor.

Education

Kojo graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. He enrolled in acting in 1987, in the class of Professor Predrag Bajčetić, together with fellow students Anita Mančić and Uliks Fehmiu.

He has said that he got into the Academy on his third attempt. His wish to become an actor, he says, began when he watched the great artists of Yugoslavia of that time in the buffet of the Atelje 212 theatre.

Early Career

He began his career before turning thirteen. He made his first appearance in 1980 in the film “Rad na određeno vreme” (Temporary Work), playing a boy named Ivan. In that film he acted alongside Milena Dravić and Ljubiša Samardžić. He received an award at the Niš Film Festival for that role.

During the 1980s he also appeared in other productions, including the film “Igmanski marš” (1983) and the television series “Sivi dom.” Even then, he showed that the camera was his natural environment.

Rise to Popularity

The real turning point came with the “Crazy Years” film series. In its sequels, among them “Žikina dinastija” (1985) and “Druga Žikina dinastija” (1986), he played Miša Pavlović. As a young actor in the role of an audience favorite, he became one of the best-known faces of the younger generation in Yugoslavia at the time.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s he took on roles in the films “Šta se zgodi kad se ljubav rodi,” “Hajde da se volimo 3” and “Početni udarac.” He also appeared in “Tesna koža 4,” where he played Momir.

We Are Not Angels and the Film Breakthrough of the 1990s

In 1992, Srđan Dragojević cast him in the lead role of the comedy “We Are Not Angels.” Kojo played Nikola, and the film became one of the most-watched productions of its time. The same director later invited him back for the sequel, “We Are Not Angels 2” (2005), in which Uroš Đurić, Srđan Todorović and Mirka Vasiljević also starred.

During that period he also played Riđi in the series “Policajac sa Petlovog brda” and Žarko Damjanović in the series “Gore dole.” After “We Are Not Angels,” Dragojević entrusted him with the role of Velja in the war drama “Pretty Village, Pretty Flame” (1996). The cast also included Dragan Bjelogrlić, Dragan Maksimović, Zoran Cvijanović, Milorad Mandić and Dragan Petrović Pele. That role presented him in a different light, in a serious dramatic register.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s he appeared in the films “The Wounds” (1998), “The Dagger” (1999) and “Sky Hook” (2000), in which he played Zuba. For his role in the film “Mechanism,” he won the Best Actor award at the Niš Film Festival in 2001.

Atelje 212 and Leaving the Theatre

After the Academy he joined the Atelje 212 theatre, which, as he says, meant a great deal to him. He has recalled that at the time, after the success of “We Are Not Angels,” he expected larger roles. According to him, when he returned from the summer break, a written dismissal was waiting for him.

Kojo describes this as an event that changed his life. He says the dismissal opened new opportunities for him in the film industry. According to some sources, in the following years he therefore devoted himself mainly to film and television, and less to the theatre.

Films and Series in the 21st Century

In the 21st century he continued to build a varied career. He appeared in Emir Kusturica’s film “Life Is a Miracle” (2004), and in “Bal-Can-Can” (2005) he played Osman Rizvanbegović. In “Black Gruya and the Stone of Wisdom” (2007) he played Karađorđe.

A special place in his filmography belongs to the thriller “The Fourth Man” (2007), directed by Dejan Zečević. Kojo played a military security service major who wakes from a two-month coma with no memory and discovers that his wife and son were killed. Marija Karan, Dragan Petrović Pele and Bogdan Diklić also appeared in the film. For that role he received the Grand Prix of the Naisa festival and the award of the Sopot festival.

In “The Parade” (2011), directed by Srđan Dragojević, he played the character Limun. On television he played Aleš Firdus in the series “Crisis” (2013–2014) and Dača in the comedy series “Radio Mileva” (2021–2024), for which he was also a collaborating writer. He played Velja Kovač in the series “U klinču” and is credited as a co-writer on the series “Čudne ljubavi” (2022).

In more recent productions he appeared in the miniseries “Dnevnik velikog Perice” (2021) and the crime series “Children of Evil” (2023). He also returned to the role of Miša Pavlović in the film “Return of Zika’s Dynasty” (2025), and a sequel has been announced for 2026.

Directorial Debut: The Film Herd

In 2016, Kojo stood behind the camera as a director for the first time. “Herd” (Stado) is a satirical comedy about life behind the scenes, based on true events. The screenplay was written by Nebojša Romčević, and Kojo produced the film together with Biljana Prvanović.

The cast included Kojo himself, along with Zoran Cvijanović, Vesna Trivalić, Nataša Ninković, Nikola Đuričko, Goran Šušljik, Srđan Timarov and Branislav Trifunović. The film premiered on 23 November 2016, and according to figures published by Danas, about 170,000 viewers saw it in a little over a month and a half. That made it the most-watched domestic film of the year in Serbia.

The film was not included in the “Serbian film” selection at the FEST festival, which drew comments in the media.

Host of the Quiz Show The Weakest Link

Besides acting and directing, Kojo is also known as a television host. Since 2023 he has hosted the Serbian version of the quiz show “The Weakest Link” on the Prva television channel. The format thus returned to Serbian screens after a long break.

Musical Show and Return to the Stage

After a break of more than a decade from stage performances, Kojo returned to audiences in 2026 with a musical show combining songs, memories and life stories. He performs with the band “Girls, boys and toys.” According to him, he sold out two concerts in Belgrade and scheduled a third for 25 September.

Speaking about the experience, Kojo said that he still feels stage fright and always will, both on film and in the theatre.

Public Engagement and Views

In recent years Kojo has spoken publicly about social and political topics. During the 2022 elections he supported the opposition candidates Zdravko Ponoš, Marinika Tepić and Dobrica Veselinović.

At the “Serbia Against Violence” protest in 2023, he criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The then Minister of Culture, Maja Gojković, responded by saying that Kojo was distorting facts about state support for film workers. Media reported that Kojo subsequently filed a lawsuit against the minister.

In interviews, Kojo has expressed support for the student protests and said that he suffers consequences because of his engagement, including, as he claims, being placed on “blacklists” at RTS and MTS. These statements reflect his own view, and we did not find a response to them in the same sources.

Greatest Achievements

Kojo’s greatest success is tied to several decades of presence on film. As a teenager he won over audiences through “Crazy Years.” With the role in “We Are Not Angels” he became a symbol of a generation, and in “Pretty Village, Pretty Flame” and “The Fourth Man” he showed his dramatic range.

His directorial debut “Herd” was the commercially most successful domestic film in Serbia in 2016. In addition, he moved successfully into television, as an actor, co-writer and host.

Personal Life

Nikola Kojo is married to Aleksandra Đurić, a model. According to most sources they married in 2007, while IMDb gives 2006 (sources differ). Kurir writes that they were together for eight months before the wedding and that she was 28 at the time.

They have three daughters. Ana was born in 2008, and the twins were born in September 2013. Kojo has said on several occasions that family life suits him.

Interesting Facts

• He was named after his great-grandfather, an archpriest in Mostar.
• As a child he played the violin in the Radio Television Belgrade orchestra.
• He first appeared on screen before turning 13.
• He is also known by the nickname Nidža.
• He got into acting school on his third attempt.
• By his own account, he was the first actor to be dismissed by Atelje 212.

Awards and Recognition

• Award at the Niš Film Festival for his role in “Rad na određeno vreme” (1980).
• Best Actor award at the Niš Film Festival for “Mechanism” (2001).
• Grand Prix of Naisa for his role as Major Stanković in “The Fourth Man” (2008).
• Sopot festival award for his role in “The Fourth Man” (2008).

Legacy and Influence

Nikola Kojo is among the actors who grew up in front of an audience. Generations of viewers remember him from the young Miša Pavlović to mature dramatic characters. His roles in Srđan Dragojević’s films have become part of the region’s shared cultural memory.

Through his work as a director, producer and host, he has shown that an actor can develop successfully beyond acting. His public engagement has provoked divided reactions, but it has reinforced the image of an artist who speaks out on matters that concern him.