Mohanlal | |
|---|---|
 Mohanlal in 2015 | |
| Born | (1960-05-21)21 May 1960 (age 65) |
| Other names | Lal, Lalu, Lalettan |
| Education | Mahatma Gandhi College (BCom) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingPranav Mohanlal |
| Relatives | K. Balaji(father-in-law) Suresh Balaje(brother-in-law) B. Unnikrishnan(relative)[3] |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch/service |  Indian Army |
| Years of service | 2009–present |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel (Hon.) |
| Unit |  Territorial Army |
| Website | thecompleteactor |
Mohanlal Viswanathan (IPA:[moːhɐnlaːlʋiʃʋʷɐn̪aːt̪ʰɐn]; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously asMohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works inMalayalam cinema and has also occasionally appeared inTamil,Hindi,Telugu andKannada films.[4][5][6] Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted inmore than 400 films.[5][7] TheGovernment of India honoured him withPadma Shri in 2001[8] andPadma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highestcivilian honours,[9] for his contributions toIndian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded thehonorary rank oflieutenant colonel in theTerritorial Army.[10][11] Mohanlal was named as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema" byCNN.[12] In 2025, theGovernment of India honoured him with theDadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in the field of Indian cinema, for his "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema."[13][14]
Mohanlal made his acting debut at age 18 in the Malayalam filmThiranottam in 1978, but the film was delayed in its release for 25 years due to censorship issues. His screen debut was in the 1980 romance filmManjil Virinja Pookkal, in which he played the antagonist.[15][16] He continued to do villainous roles and rose to secondary lead roles in the following years. By the mid-1980s, he established himself as a bankable leading actor and attained stardom after starring in several successful films in 1986; the crime dramaRajavinte Makan released that year heightened his stardom.[15] Mohanlal prefers to work in Malayalam films, but he has also appeared in other language films. Some of his best known non-Malayalam films include the Tamil political dramaIruvar (1997), the Hindi crime dramaCompany (2002) and the Telugu filmJanatha Garage (2016).[17][18]
Mohanlal has won fiveNational Film Awards—twoBest Actor, aSpecial Jury Mention and aSpecial Jury Award for acting, and an award forBest Feature Film (as producer), also nineKerala State Film Awards andFilmfare Awards South andnumerous other accolades. He receivedhonorary doctorates fromSree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in 2010[19] and theUniversity of Calicut in 2018.[20]
Mohanlal is also known for his philanthropic endeavours. He founded theViswaSanthi Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation, to create and deliver high-impact and focused programmes to the underprivileged sections of society in the areas of healthcare and education.[21][22][23]
Mohanlal Viswanathan was born in the village ofElanthoor,Kollam district (present-dayPathanamthitta district),Kerala on 21 May 1960. He is the youngest child of Viswanathan Nair, a former bureaucrat and Law Secretary with theKerala government, and Santhakumari.[24][25] He had an elder brother named Pyarelal (died in 2000, due to heart related issues).[26] DirectorB. Unnikrishnan is a close maternal relative of Mohanlal.[27]
Mohanlal grew up in Mudavanmugal at his paternal home inThiruvananthapuram. He studied atGovernment Model Boys Higher Secondary School,Thiruvananthapuram and graduated with aBachelor of Commerce degree fromMahatma Gandhi College,Thiruvananthapuram.[28][29] Mohanlal's first role was as a sixth grader for a stage play calledComputer Boy, in which he played a ninety-year-old man.[30]
During 1977 and 1978 he was theKerala state wrestling champion.[31]
Mohanlal was named by his maternal uncle Gopinathan Nair, who initially decided to name him Roshanlal before choosing "Mohanlal". However, his father avoided giving him their surname. His father was adamant that he should not bear their caste name (Nair) as surname which they all had.[32]
Mohanlal made his acting debut in 1978 with the filmThiranottam, which was produced and made by Mohanlal and his friends—Maniyanpilla Raju, Suresh Kumar, Unni,Priyadarshan,Ravi Kumar and a few others. Mohanlal played Kuttappan, a mentally disabled servant. Due to some issues with censorship, the film was not released on time. It took 25 years to release the film.[16]
In 1980, Mohanlal was cast in the lead antagonist role inManjil Virinja Pookkal – the directorial debut ofFazil. The film became a major success.[33] Mohanlal's friends had sent his application in response to an advertisement released byNavodaya Studio.[34] He auditioned for the role in front of a panel that included professional directors. Displeased with his appearance, two of them gave him poor marks, but Fazil and Jijo Appachan gave him 90 and 95 marks out of 100.[35] In an interview withReader's Digest in 2004, Mohanlal said that his looks as a young man might have fit thevillain's image.[36] His acclaimed negative roles includeSandhyakku Virinja Poovu andKuyiline Thedi.[37]
By 1983, Mohanlal was credited in more than 25 feature films, most of them had him playing negative roles.[36] Films such asEnte Mohangal Poovaninju,Iniyengilum,Visa,Attakkalasham,Kaliyil Alpam Karyam,Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku,Engane Nee Marakkum,Unaroo andSreekrishna Parunthu changed his image.[vague] Through Sasikumar'sIvide Thudangunnu, he became a successful hero with a "good heart". Mohanlal played his first comic lead role in anensemble cast in the 1984 comedyPoochakkoru Mookkuthi, directed by Priyadarshan, as a young man in love with a girl whom he mistakenly believes to be rich.[38] It also marked the beginning of the Mohanlal-Priyadarshan duo, who as of 2016, have worked together in 44 films.[39]
In 1985, he recorded a song for the filmOnnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil.[38]Uyarangalil,Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu,Boeing Boeing andAram + Aram = Kinnaram were some of his films in this period.
During this period, Mohanlal played very different roles in films "made by the great masters", such asG. Aravindan,Hariharan,M. T. Vasudevan Nair,Padmarajan,Bharathan andLohithadas.[40] Mohanlal, along with actor and scriptwriterSreenivasan, who played his sidekick in several films, showcased the angst of unemployed, educatedMalayali youth forced to adapt to hostile environments in many realistic social satires,[41] some of which were written by Sreenivasan himself.[42]
In 1986, he starred inT. P. Balagopalan M.A., directed bySathyan Anthikad, for which he received his firstKerala State Film Award for Best Actor.[43] He portrayed an unemployed young man who shoulders the responsibility of his family. His performance inSanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam as a harassed house-owner won him theFilmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) in the same year. Mohanlal was given the status of a new Malayalamsuperstar by the public after the box office success ofRajavinte Makan (1986), in which he played anunderworld don, Vincent Gomez. He also starred in thetragedyThalavattom, playing Vinod, a young man who becomes mentally ill upon witnessing his girlfriend's death. He played Solomon in Padmarajan'sNamukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal. Mohanlal's association with Padmarajan was very well noted because their films told stories that were well and truly ahead of their times and broke many conventionalstereotypes prevailing during that time in the Malayalam film industry. In 1986 alone, Mohanlal appeared in 36 Malayalam films.[40]
The following year, Mohanlal starred withSreenivasan andShobana in the Sathyan Anthikad comedyNadodikkattu, which became a box office success. Mohanlal and Sreenivasan reprised their roles as the detectivesDasan and Vijayan respectively in its sequels;Pattanapravesham (1988) andAkkare Akkare Akkare (1990).Thoovanathumbikal, directed by Padmarajan, in which he portrayed a person torn between his twin love interests, broke many stereotypes in Indian films,[41][44] such as, the leading man falling in love with a second woman immediately after he is rejected by the first, and of a man falling in love with a sex worker. Theromantic comedyChithram, released in 1988, played for 366 days in a theatre, becoming the longest-running Malayalam film.[38] Mohanlal won aKerala State Special Jury Award in 1988 for his acting inPadamudra,Aryan,Vellanakalude Nadu,Ulsavapittennu andChithram.[43]
In 1989, the combination of the writerLohitha Das and directorSibi Malayil created the character Sethumadhavan, a person who dreams of becoming a police officer, but ends up as a criminal, in the tragedyKireedam. The role earned Mohanlal aNational Film Special Jury Mention.[38] Mohanlal later recalled that his portrayal of Sethumadhavan's mental agony, commended as a natural performance, was spontaneous and that he "did what Sethumadhavan, my character, would have done in such a situation", adding that acting was "akin to entering another person's body."[40] In the same year, he acted in a film which became a commercial success,Varavelpu, which tells the story of a man who earned money working in theGulf and came back home to enjoy his life with his family. He bought a bus, which eventually gets him into trouble. The formerPrime Minister of India,Atal Bihari Vajpayee, mentioned the film as an example of ignorance by Malayali towards global economic changes during the inauguration of the Global Investor Meet held atKochi on 18 January 2003.[45][46] In 1989, he starred in another one of Padmarajan's movies;Season.
In the early 1990s, Mohanlal acted in a number of commercial films, such asHis Highness Abdullah,Midhunam andNo.20 Madras Mail.His Highness Abdullah was the first independent production of Mohanlal under his companyPranavam Arts International. Mohanlal appeared in Bharathan'sThazhvaram in 1990, as a widower seeking revenge for the murder of his wife by his most trusted friend. His romantic comedyKilukkam in 1991 won him a State Film Award for Best Actor. The film is considered one of the greatest comedy films of all time in Malayalam. It also became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the time. In 1991, Mohanlal produced and starred inBharatham, which is interpreted as a modern-day adaptation of theRamayana fromBharath's perspective. The film was a critical and commercial success, with his role as aCarnatic singer who is burdened by a jealous brother, earning him theNational Film Award for Best Actor for that year.[47][48] He portrayed aBharatanatyam dancer inKamaladalam(1992). He took help from his choreographer and his co-actors and professional dancersVineeth andMonisha for enacting the dance scenes.[40]Rajashilpi,Sadayam,Yoddha, andVietnam Colony were his other films released in 1992. The dramaDevaasuram (1993), written byRanjith and directed byI. V. Sasi, was one of Mohanlal's most successful films and is regarded as acult classic.[47]
In 1994, Mohanlal starred in the lead role as Dr. Sunny Joseph, a psychiatrists inFazil-directed classicManichitrathazhu. One of the most successful Malayalam film, it ran for more than 365 days in few theatres.[49] The film later gained cult status and is regarded as one of the bestpsychological thrillers in Indian cinema.[50][51]Spadikam was a 1995 work for which he won his third Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) for his portrayal of Thomas "Aadu Thoma" Chacko, a young man who becomes a thug, estranged from his father, upon failing to meet the latter's high expectations.[52] In 1996, Mohanlal starred in Priyadarshan'sKaalapani, an epic film about the prisoners in theCellular Jail ofPort Blair and Lohithadas'sKanmadam (1998). He played the lead role inGuru, directed byRajiv Anchal in 1997. The film was chosen asIndia's official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in theBest Foreign Language Film category for 1997.[53]
Mohanlal acted in his first non-Malayalam film in 1997, in theTamilbiographical filmIruvar, directed byMani Ratnam.[54] The film, in which Mohanlal depicted an actor who turns to politics (based on the life ofM. G. Ramachandran), was a critical success and won many awards including the Best Film award at theBelgrade International Film Festival and two National Film Awards.[55][56] In 1998, he produced and starred inHarikrishnans, co-starringMammootty andJuhi Chawla. The film was a commercial success, but was not well received by critics.[57] The film had dualclimaxes, which were screened in different regions, based on the popularity of the two lead actors in each particular region.[58] This, however, became controversial and took a communal turn when lawsuits were filed claiming that prints exhibited inHindu-dominated areas showed Mohanlal marrying the heroine, whereas the ones inMuslim-dominated areas showed Mammootty marrying her. The major issue was that the film showed uncensored scenes, as the submitted cut of the film to theCentral Board of Film Certification was the version in which Mohanlal wins the leading lady. Hence they were forced to remove the Mammootty version from theatres, replacing it with the original. However, in television premieres, both film versions were shown.[59]
Mohanlal depicted aKathakali artist whose personal life is a tragedy in the 1999Indo-Frenchperiod dramaVanaprastham, produced by him and directed byShaji N. Karun. It won him the second National Award for Best Actor and was the first film that got him international recognition by screening in various Film festivals. The film was selected for the competitive section at theCannes Film Festival and his performance was critically acclaimed. It also earned him his fourth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, second National Film Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam).[36][60][61]Vanaprastham was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at theAFI Fest.[62]Vanaprastham was screened in retrospective, during the 2014International Film Festival of India in the 'Celebrating Dance in Indian Cinema' section.[63]
In 2000, Mohanlal starred inNarasimham, playing a rogue with a good heart.[64] It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.[65] In the next two years, Mohanlal wastypecasted in similar larger-than-lifeaction hero roles in films such asRavanaprabhu (2001),Praja (2001),Onnaman (2002),Thandavam (2002) andChathurangam (2002). Except forRavanaprabhu, these films were widely criticised for their repetitive plots, lewd dialogues, punch lines and male chauvinistic outlook.[65][66][67] A critic fromThe New Indian Express wrote: "TheNarasimham hangover is terrifically strong and it has, at least for the moment, killed the prospects of good films. I don't see any other reason for the failure of well made female-oriented films likeMazha andMadhuranombarakkattu".[65]
In 2002, Mohanlal played SreenivasanIPS, aMumbai police officer,[36] in his firstBollywood filmCompany, which introduced him to theHindi-speaking audience in India and for which he won theInternational Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) andStar Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor.[68][69] The film dealt with the real-life story of two underworld dons who ruled Mumbai (played byAjay Devgn andVivek Oberoi). Mohanlal's performance was well received.The Hindu noted that the actor is "at his natural best" and "does not look stifled or anxious as otherSouth Indian stars do when they appear in a Hindi movie for the first time".[70] In a 2010 online poll by Hindifilmnews.com, Mohanlal's performance inCompany was chosen as "The Finest Performance of a Bollywood Actor in the Last Decade (2001–2010)". He was No. 1 in the audiences' list and maintained No. 6 in the critics' list.[71]
The following year, Mohanlal, trying to change his action hero image,[72] returned to comedic roles withKilichundan Mampazham,Balettan,Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu andMr. Brahmachari.Kilichundan Mampazham, promoted as a comeback vehicle for the actor, received good reviews and a decent box office collection.[73][74]Balettan, directed byV. M. Vinu, was also a commercial success.[75] Mohanlal played Athanipparambil Balachandran, a bank employee always willing to lend a helping hand to others, who is forced to hide many secrets after his father's death leading to his family's mistrust.[76] In 2004,Natturajavu andMambazhakkalam were his only successes.[77]
Mohanlal appeared in the 2005black comedyUdayananu Tharam as an aspiring film director. It was well received by critics and performed well even in places where Malayalam films do not run in regular shows, such asVadodara,Rajkot,Pune andAhmedabad.[42] In the same year, he appeared in directorBlessy's second filmThanmathra, a film that tells the story of an individual suffering fromAlzheimer's disease. The film received positive reviews and Mohanlal's performance was highly praised by critics.[78] Mohanlal won his fifthKerala State Film Award for Best Actor and seventhFilmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance. In the movie, his character does not speak in the second half.[78][79][80]
In 2006, he worked with directorSathyan Anthikkad inRasathanthram, a family drama. Mohanlal also acted inKirtichakra, by directorMajor Ravi, in which he plays anIndian Army officer,Major Mahadevan. The film was shot inKashmir, and was a notable commercial success.[81] Adubbed Tamil version of the film was released inTamil Nadu asAran, but Mohanlal disassociated himself with the film since his voice was not used, stating that "I prefer to speak for my role in the film."[82] Mohanlal also acted in the sequelsKurukshetra (2008) andKandahar (2010) in the Major Mahadevan series. In 2009, the Indian government conferred him with the honorary title oflieutenant colonel in theIndian Territorial Army.[83]
In 2007, Mohanlal won theKerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance inParadesi, directed byP. T. Kunju Muhammed.Sify.com stated that "Mohanlal is mesmerising and reinvents the idiom of acting once more with feeling." His July releaseHallo became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.[84][85] In August that year, he appeared in his secondBollywood filmAag, (also calledRam Gopal Varma Ki Aag), a remake of the Bollywood classicSholay (1975). Mohanlal reprised the role played bySanjeev Kumar from the original.[86] In 2008, Mohanlal did the lead role in the multi-starrer blockbusterTwenty:20 and in 2009, he co-starred withKamal Haasan in the Tamil filmUnnaipol Oruvan. His last film of the year,Evidam Swargamanu, was directed byRosshan Andrrews.
In 2010, he acted in five films, the first beingJanakan, a crime thriller in which he co-starred withSuresh Gopi, written byS. N Swamy. In the film, he played Adv. Surya Narayanan encounters some runaway suspects as they approach him for justice.Alexander the Great, directed by Murali Nagavally was a comical racy entertainer released in May.Oru Naal Varum, directed byT. K Rajeev Kumar, scripted bySreenivasan and produced byManiyanpilla Raju, was a social satire aboutcorruption in India. It reunited the much-adored classic combo of Mohanlal-Sreenivasan onscreen. His next film wasShikkar, a dark revenge thriller directed byM. Padmakumar, in which he played a lorry driver who is haunted by his past. The film topped at theRamzan box office.[87] It was followed byKandahar, a war film directed byMajor Ravi, based on the hijacking ofIndian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999. Mohanlal reprised the role ofMajor Mahadevan in the film. It was the third installment in theMajor Mahadevan film series, and the debut Malayalam film ofAmitabh Bachchan.
Mohanlal's first release in 2011 was the multi-starrerChristian Brothers, anaction drama directed byJoshiy and scripted byUdayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, in which he co-starred withSuresh Gopi,Dileep andSarath Kumar. Released worldwide in March across 300 screens, which was the largest release for a Malayalam film at the time,[88] this racy film was a commercial success and one of the top grossing Malayalam films of the year.[89] HisVishu (April) release wasChina Town, another multi-starrer in which he co-starred withJayaram andDileep, which was a comedy film directed byRafi Mecartin. Despite mixed reviews, the film ran over 100 days and became one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of the year.[90] He starred inPranayam, released in August, an off-beatromantic drama directed byBlessy. It was a love story between three aged characters played by Mohanlal,Anupam Kher andJayapradha. The film was highly acclaimed by critics and Mohanlal's performance as Mathews was well appreciated.[91] His next filmSnehaveedu, was directed bySathyan Anthikkadu,[92] a family film in the background of a village inPalakkad. For the first time, actressSheela shared screen space with Mohanlal. She played his mother.Snehaveedu is credited as his 300th film.[93] The film was a hit.[94] His last movie that year wasOru Marubhoomikkadha, directed byPriyadarshan, which was anaction comedy thriller entirely set in theMiddle East. It marked the return of the Priyadarshan-Mohanlal-Mukesh combo of the late 1980s and 90s. The film performed well at the Christmas-New Year's box office.[95]
In 2012, he acted in six films. His first release was the much hyped big-budgetromantic thriller filmCasanovva, directed byRosshan Andrrews and written byBobby-Sanjay. He enacted the role of Casanova, a serial womaniser and the owner of Casanova's Eternal Spring – an international chain of flower boutiques. Later, he appeared in a cameo role in the Bollywood movieTezz, which was released in April and directed byPriyadarshan. His next film was theB. Unnikrishnan-directorialGrandmaster, aneo-noircrimethriller about a cop who is forced to investigate a series of murders. Mohanlal's well-tempered, calm and subdued acting was appreciated by the critics.[96] Produced byUTV Motion Pictures, it was the first Malayalam film to be released throughNetflix, and made available in theUnited States andCanada.[97]Spirit, directed byRanjith, talked about the increasing habit of alcoholism inKerala. The film was exempted from the entertainment tax by the state government for creating social awareness in the society.[98] The film completed a 125-day theatrical run in Kerala and became a commercial success.[99]Run Baby Run, released during theOnam festival, was acomedy thriller directed byJoshiy. It featured the news media as the background. The film was well appreciated by critics, remarking that it was as an example of a well-crafted thriller.[100] It became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.[101] The year ended with the Christmas releaseKarmayodha, directed byMajor Ravi, an action thriller in which he played Mad Maddy, an encounter specialist who is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a teenage school girl inMumbai. The film dealt with thediscrimination against women.
2013 was a remarkable year for Mohanlal, it was the year in which the all-time blockbuster of Malayalam film,Drishyam released. His first film of the year wasLokpal, a vigilante thriller in which he played a vigilante nicknamed "Lokpal". It was directed byJoshiy and written byS. N. Swamy.Red Wine, directed bySalam Bappu, was a non-linear investigation thriller based on a political murder.Ladies and Gentleman, directed bySiddique, was a romantic comedy film set in the backdrop of IT companies.Geethaanjali, a horror thriller directed byPriyadarsan, was a spin-off of the Malayalam classic filmManichitrathazhu, in which he reprised the role of Dr. Sunny from the original. His last release wasDrishyam, directed byJeethu Joseph. It grossed₹75 crore worldwide and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever, until 2016.[102]
In 2014, he starred in theTamil action-dramaJilla, alongsideVijay, directed byR. T. Neason and produced byR. B. Choudary.[103][104] The film was a commercial success, grossing over₹85 crore worldwide,[105] and completed 100 days theatrical run inChennai, Tamil Nadu.[106] Mohanlal's first Malayalam release of 2014 wasMr. Fraud, aheist film directed byB. Unnikrishnan. He appeared in an extended cameo role in his next filmKoothara, directed by Srinath Rajendran, acoming-of-agemystery film set in an untold period. He played a mysterious character in the experimental film, who at the end of the film revealed himself as amerman. His next was the comicalpolitical satire filmPeruchazhi, written and directed byArun Vaidyanathan. He played a young political kingmaker who is assigned to make a candidate for governor win theCalifornia state gubernatorial elections, where he uses standard Indian political gimmicks to win the election in the USA.
In 2015, his first release was theKannada filmMythri. His performance as the revenge-seeking DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientist Mahadev was well appreciated by the critics. His first Malayalam release was with a cameo appearance inRasam.Ennum Eppozhum, directed bySathyan Anthikad was his first leading role in the year, co-starringManju Warrier. The film was a success at the box office. It was followed by the action thrillerLailaa O Lailaa, directed by Joshiy, both of which failed critically and commercially at the box office. His next was theRanjith directorial thrillerLoham. Though it met with mixed critical reactions, the film was a commercial success.[107] The revenge thrillerKanal was his last in the year. It also received mixed reviews from critics.
In 2016, Mohanlal had four releases, which had a combined gross collection of₹378 crore worldwide, making him fourth (behindAamir Khan,Akshay Kumar, andSalman Khan) among the top Indian actors with highest box office receipts in the year, and in top position amongSouth Indian actors.[108] His first release in the year was the Telugu filmManamantha, a family drama directed byChandra Sekhar Yeleti. For this film, he dubbed in Telugu.[109][110] His following release was another Telugu filmJanatha Garage, an action drama directed byKoratala Siva.[111] It became the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2016 and one of the highest-grossing Telugu films,[112] with a gross collection of over₹135 crore worldwide.[113] His first Malayalam release that year was the crime-thrillerOppam, directed byPriyadarshan in which he played a blind man. The film became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2016.[114] It crossed the₹50 crore mark at the box office within one-and-a-half months,[115] and grossed over₹65 crore worldwide.[116] He acted as a hunter in his following release, the action filmPulimurugan, his last release of the year. It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and is the first Malayalam film to gross over₹100 crore at the box office.[117] The film has so far collected₹152 crore worldwide.[118] The film received positive response for his performance and Paresh C. Palicha stated, "It is Mohanlal's calibre as an actor that makes this thriller a really thrilling experience."[119] The next year in 2017, he acted inMunthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (2016) which grossed 50 crore at the box office.[108] He then appeared in1971: Beyond Borders directed byMajor Ravi and was based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war.[120] He played dual roles ofColonel Mahadevan andMajor Sahadevan.[121] The next film he acted in wasVelipadinte Pusthakam directed byLal Jose in their first colloboration.[122] It was followed by the action thrillerVillain directed byB. Unnikrishnan.[123] It was his last release of the year and became one of his highest grossing film.[124][125]
In 2018, Mohanlal did cameo appearances inAadhi andKayamkulam Kochunni, where he playedIthikkara Pakki, a robber contemporary to Kochunni.[126][127][128] His next two releases,Neerali andDrama failed st the box office.[129][130][131] Mohanlal then acted in the fantasy drama filmOdiyan, directed byV. A. Shrikumar Menon, based on the legend of theOdiyan clan. The film emerged as one of the highest grossing Malayalam film and was his only box office success in 2018.[132][133] Mohanlal played a crime syndicate leader in his first film of 2019,Lucifer, directed byPrithviraj Sukumaran.[134] Lakshana. N. Palat ofIndia Today stated, "Lucifer is like Mohanlal fanfiction brought to life on-screen. If you swear by Mohanlal, go for it."[135] One of the highest grossing Malayalam film of all time, it earned over ₹200 crore, which includes box office collections and the earnings from the sale of its satellite rights, digital streaming rights and TV rights in other languages.[136][137] He then appeared inIttymaani: Made in China, which was a moderate success.[138] He then played the Prime Minister in the Tamil filmKaappaan, a commercial success.[139][140] His only film in 2020 wasBig Brother, where he played an ex-criminal who return to his family post his release from prison.[141][142]
Mohanlal reprised a his role in the sequelDrishyam 2, directed byJeethu Joseph, which released on Amazon Prime in 2021.[143] Haricharan Pudippedi noted, "Mohanlal brings a restrained performance to Georgekutty’s character. He seems to be a much calmer man this time around but nobody has a clue about what’s brewing in his mind."[144] He then played a muslim warriorKunjali Marakkar IV inMarakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, which underperformed at the box office. It also won a National Film Award.[145][146] His first film in 2022 wasBro Daddy, where he played a joyous father to Prithviraj Sukumaran.[147] Janani K. stated, "Mohanlal is a hoot in this film. His minute expressions and his comic timing are impeccable."[148] His next two releasesAaraattu andMonster were box office failures.[149][150] He then appeared in12th Man, which released digitally onDisney+ Hotstar.[151] In 2023, Mohanlal's first filmAlone, was a box office flop.[152] He then did a cameo in the Tamil filmJailer.[153] Mohanlal then played an advocate inNeru, which emerged as the second highest grossing Malayalam film of the year.[154][155] S. R. Praveen stated that Mohanlal is back to form with "an understated performance".[156] Both his films in 2024:Malaikottai Vaaliban andBarroz 3D flopped at the box office, leading to a series of commercial failures for Mohanlal.[157][158]
Mohanlal's career resurged in 2025. He first reprised his role in the sequelL2: Empuraan.[159] Ganesh Aaglave ofFirstpost noted, "Mohanlal is expected to be brilliant, and he is, without any doubt. He oozes swag and beautifully expresses each emotion with a subtle yet impactful mood."[160] A commercial success, it emerged as the highest grossing Malayalam film of the year.[161] He then played a taxi driver inThudarum.[162] Latha Srinivasan ofHindustan Times noted, "Mohanlal is in top-form and every scene he is in showcases the great actor that he is."[163] The film became a box office success.[164] BothL2: Empuraan andThudarum became thehighest and third-highest grossing Malayalam film of all-time respectively.[165] Following Thudarum, Mohanlal played Sandeep, who is living with a heart transplant and is coaxed to attend the engagement of the daughter of the colonel whose heart he received in the movie,Hridayapoorvam. The film became a box office success and along withL2: Empuraan and Thudarum, Hridayapoorvam became one of thehighest-grossing Malayalam films worldwide.[166]
Mohanlal had acted in severalamateur plays before entering into films. In 2001, he debuted inprofessional drama playingKarna (a character from the Indian epicMahabharata) inKarnabharam, aSanskrit-language play directed byKavalam Narayana Panicker. It premiered at theSiri Fort Auditorium inNew Delhi on 29 March 2001 as part of theNational Theatre Festival of theNational School of Drama. The play depicts Karna's mental agony a day before theKurukshetra War, as he thinks about his past and his faith. Mohanlal said: "You cannot compare Kavalam's play with the amateur plays I did. Though there are other characters in the play, the theme revolves around Karna. It is almost like a solo performance. Some of the scenes are really touching and challenging".[167] He acted without payment, saying: "I performed for the joy of it ... for my love of our history".[36]
Kadhayattam was a presentation enacted by Mohanlal, performing ten classic characters and situations fromMalayalam literature, selected from ten Malayalam novels written byO. Chandu Menon,C. V. Raman Pillai,S. K. Pottekkatt,Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai,P. Kesavadev,Vaikom Muhammad Basheer,Uroob,O. V. Vijayan,M. Mukundan, andM. T. Vasudevan Nair over a 100-year period. The play, directed byT. K. Rajeev Kumar premiered at the Senate Hall ofUniversity of Kerala on 1 November 2003, and later was staged inKozhikode,Bangalore,Chennai andDelhi.[168][169] In 2008, Mohanlal along withMukesh performed inChayamukhi, written and directed by Prasanth Narayanan. Mohanlal and Mukesh portrayedBheeman andKeechakan respectively, the characters fromMahabharata. It had aplay within a play narrative style. It premiered at theLulu International Convention Centre inThrissur on 12 March 2008,[170] and later was staged in Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore,Kollam,Kochi, and Kozhikode. A critic fromThe Hindu wrote: "Chayamukhi is, arguably, the finest work on Malayalam stage in recent times".[171] In the same year, Mohanlal voicedHanuman in the EnglishballetMaya Ravan, directed byShobana.[172]
In 2014, Mohanlal and musicianRatheesh Vegha formed the music band Lalisom - The Lal Effect.[173] Its maiden show was at the2015 National Games of India. The band drew flak fromsocial media initially for charging an amount of₹1.63 crore and later forlip-syncing.[174] Following the criticism, Mohanlal returned the amount to the government, which they refused stating that the government's morality would not allow them to take back the money and Mohanlal had not personally benefited from the amount which he received, since it was meant to meet the stage expenses and remuneration for the artistes.[175] Despite that, Mohanlal did not take back the money he dispatched.[176]
In 2015, he collaborated once again with Mukesh forNaga, but this time as the narrator. The play, based onGirish Karnad'sKannada playNagamandala, was directed bySuveeran.Naga was a combination of myth, superstition, fact, and fantasy. It was premiered at the Parish Hall ofSt. George Church, Kalady on 9 August 2015.[177]
Mohanlal has been agoodwill ambassador for the government and othernonprofit organisations, mainly forpublic service ads and humanitarian causes. In March 2007, he was made the goodwill ambassador of theAIDS awareness campaign by Kerala AIDS Control Society, for which he acted in short awareness videos.[178] In October 2009, Mohanlal was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of Kerala State Athletics by the Kerala State Athletics Association.[179] In March 2010, Mohanlal accepted the plea of theDepartment of Industries and Commerce of theGovernment of Kerala to be designated as the goodwill ambassador of Kerala'shandloom industries.[180] In July 2015, the Government of Kerala made him the Goodwill ambassador of "Subhayatra 2015", a project developed to create awareness about traffic rules.[181] He was appointed as the Goodwill ambassador of "Mrithasanjeevani" in September 2016, another project by the Government of Kerala aimed at promotingorgan donation in the state.[182] In January 2021, he was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of thetuberculosis eradication campaign by the Kerala government's health department.[183]
He has also appeared in several television commercials and advertisements forMalabar Gold and Diamonds, Oceanus etc.[184] Mohanlal was the firstmovie star in India to endorse the ubiquitousdhoti after he was made the brand ambassador of MCR in 2001. MCR manufactured 30,000 coloured dhotis which had been featured in the filmNarasimham (2000), which was a market success. He continues to be the chief brand ambassador of MCR.[185] Mohanlal signed as the brand ambassador of Kanan Devan in 2002, atea brand owned by theTata Global Beverages. His contract was renewed after itsrebranding in 2014.[186] In July 2010,LG Electronics India enlisted Mohanlal for the endorsement of the brand'sOnam festival offers for Kerala customers lasting till September 2010.[187] In the same year, he was signed as the brand ambassador in the state forManappuram Finance Ltd., anon-banking financial company.[188] Mohanlal endorsed thecoconut oil brand KLF Coconad in 2013.[189]
In September 2013, thedirect-broadcast satellite television providerTata Sky announced Mohanlal as its brand endorser for its Kerala market.[190] Mohanlal, along withMilkha Singh andP. T. Usha were the brand ambassadors of the event Kochi International Half Marathon in 2013, ahalf marathon organised byKochi Municipal Corporation and Push Integrated Communication Pvt Ltd.,[191] He continued in its second edition in 2014, along withcricketerHarbhajan Singh.[192] In May 2016, as part of expanding its market to theSouth Indian audience, the entertainment companyHotstar, which is a platform forstreaming media andvideo on demand, announced Mohanlal as its brand ambassador for its Malayalam contents. He endorsed its six-week multimediacampaign on television,print,outdoor anddigital medias.[193][194]
Mohanlal has started and associated with several business ventures related to film production and distribution, restaurants and packaged spices among others. He co-owned a production company during the 1980s, Casino, along withMammootty,I.V. Sasi,Seema and Century Kochumon. The production house produced commercially successful films such asAdiyozhukkukal (1984),Karimpinpoovinakkare (1985),Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) andNadodikkattu (1987).[195][196] He ownsMaxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, afilm distribution company.[197] He started Vismayas Max, a filmpre andpost-production studio headquartered inTrivandrum and a college for dubbing artists atKINFRA Film and Video Park, Trivandrum. The company's management was later taken over bySohan Roy of Aries Group, which has now been renamed as Aries Vismayas Max. Mohanlal continues to be its brand ambassador. He has produced films under the production housePranavam Arts International.[198]
He owns restaurants in India and overseas, including achain inDubai called Mohanlal's Tastebuds, established in 2002, and a spices, pickles, condiments, and curry powder brand with the same name launched in February 2004 in theMiddle East. From 2007, the Eastern Group owns the majority stake in the brand.[199] In 2006, he opened aseafood restaurant named The Harbour Market inBangalore,[200] and a hotel named Travancore Court inKochi.[201] His other business ventures include Uniroyal Marine Exports Limited – aKozhikode-based seafood export company, where he is anon-executive director since 1992.[202] He is the co-founder, partner and chairman ofJose Thomas Performing Arts Centre (JTPac) inThrippunithura,Kochi, anarts centre forperforming arts and music established in 2009.[203] He is anindependent director of Clenergen India Private Limited, a company for production and supply ofbiomass feedstock for biomassgasification.[204]
In 2009, Mohanlal, along withPriyadarshan, tried to bid for anIndian Premier League (IPL)cricket team based inKochi; they withdrew the bid on failing to source enough funds after a change in rules was introduced.[179][205] Mohanlal was the captain of theKerala Strikers team in theCelebrity Cricket League (CCL) held in 2012 and 2013.[206]
In 2008, Mohanlal underwent 18 months of covertescape artist training under magicianGopinath Muthukad to perform a stunt called the "Burning Illusion" inThiruvananthapuram.[207] However, due to pressure from fans and contemporaries, the act was canceled. The event was jointly organised by theKerala Police,Department of Tourism, and the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board as part ofVismayam 2008, an international convention of magicians. The stunt involved Mohanlal being handcuffed and wrapped in chains, placed inside a box, and thrown into a ball of fire from which he had to escape.[208]
Magician Samraj advised Mohanlal against the stunt and requesting that he withdraw.[209]AMMA presidentInnocent also urged Mohanlal to refrain from the risky show.[210] The purpose of the stunt was to inspire youth to overcome challenges in life. Mohanlal acknowledged the 50-50 risk involved but expressed hope for success.[211] Muthukad emphasised that, althoughfire escape is one of the most dangerous acts, Mohanlal has been practicing to perfect it.[212]
In 2014, Mohanlal performed a risk-free magic at the inaugural function of Magic Planet, a magic-themed complex in Thiruvananthapuram, founded by Muthukad. Thechief minister of Kerala,Oommen Chandy, inaugurated the event, and Mohanlal's act involvedlevitating a girl.[213]
Mohanlal has been described in the Indian media as one of the most versatile actors and has been lauded for his natural acting style.[47][79][214][215][216] Mohanlal is also known by his pet name "Lalettan".[217]Reader's Digest India described him in 2004 as "cinema's jack of all trades and master of many".[36] He was also listed 80th in India's Most Trusted Persons, in a survey conducted by Reader's Digest in 2010.[218] DirectorRam Gopal Varma has described Mohanlal as "one of the finest actors in the country who can slip into any role easily".[219] The actor has often been praised by his contemporaries in theIndian film industry, for his contributions toMalayalam cinema.[220][221][222]
In 2003, on the 25th anniversary of Mohanlal's film career, a week-long celebration and a stage show were held inThiruvananthapuram, by his fans and friends. The proceeds from the stage show were donated to charity.[223] Malayalam television channelsAsianet andSurya TV also held separate stage shows to celebrate the anniversary.[224]
During the 1980s, Mohanlal andMammootty emerged as "superstars" inMalayalam cinema, marking an unprecedented phenomenon in the industry. This led to a shift in the Malayalam film landscape, withstar-driven films becoming the norm, reminiscent ofBollywood andTamil film cultures. AsIndia Today noted in 1988, filmmakers tailored characters to suit these superstars. DirectorI. V. Sasi remarked that evenPrem Nazir never had the popularity of Mohanlal and Mammootty, who possess "a rare and right mixture of charisma and acting ability". In 1988, filmmakerFazil stated that, "Mohanlal is the most flexible and subtle actor in the country today. He can do whatDustin Hoffman did inTootsie orSilvester Stallone did inRambo with ease".[225]
In 2005, the films of Mohanlal, Mammootty, andDileep accounted for 95 percent of the box office gross in Malayalam cinema.The Hindu wrote that "Malayalam cinema revolves around them and scripts are written keeping their age and image in mind", they played larger-than-life characters with distinctive style of attire, dialogues, dance, and fight sequences.[226][227] Mohanlal's manyfan clubs which are present throughout Kerala help in creating a buzz around new releases and ensure a good opening in movie screens, a crucial factor to the success of films in Kerala.[228] In 2007, some social activists protested against Mohanlal for appearing in awhisky commercial, to which he responded that it is unfair to single him out when so many other Indian actors do the same.[229]
In 2012, the forest department filed a case against Mohanlal under theWildlife Protection Act, 1972 for possessing elephant tusks discovered during an income tax raid at his home.[230] Subsequently, the tusks were returned to Mohanlal.[231] Various petitions were dismissed in lower courts and theHigh Court of Kerala, alleging favouritism by the state government and department officials towards Mohanlal, and demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.[232][233] In 2013, dismissing a petition, the High Court concluded that "there was nothing to show that the State government or its officers had acted in favour of the actor. Besides, the petitioner had not been able to point out any illegality or irregularities in the investigation".[233] Similarly, in 2014, the High Court dismissed aPublic Interest Litigation (PIL) and criticised the petitioner, stating that "there is no public interest in the petition, but it is aimed only at publicity".[232]
Mohanlal's performance inBharatham was listed among the "25 Greatest Acting Performances ofIndian cinema" byForbes India, on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema.[234] His performance inDrishyam is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" byFilm Companion.[235] In 2024, he was placed 48th onIMDb's List of 100 Most Viewed Indian Stars.[236]
Mohanlal married Suchitra, daughter of the Tamil film producerK. Balaji, on 28 April 1988.[237] The couple has two children –Pranav Mohanlal and Vismaya Mohanlal. Pranav has acted in a few films, debuting in Mohanlal'sOnnaman (2001).[238] Mohanlal did not object when his son expressed a desire to act, as "kids may have many such ambitions. If we can help them realise something, what is the problem?."[238] He resides in Kochi, where he owns houses at Thevara,[239] Elamakkara[240] and Kundannoor.[241] He also owns houses in Chennai, his hometown Thiruvananthapuram,Ooty,[242] Mahabalipuram, a villa in Arabian Ranches and a flat in theBurj Khalifa inDubai.[243]Mohanlal is a self-described foodie.[244] He also enjoys melodious music. Mohanlal is a strong believer in destiny and spirituality. He describes himself as a religious and spiritual person,[245] and likes to readOsho,J. Krishnamurti,Aurobindo andRamana Maharshi. He has often stated that the turn of events in his life, including his film career, was accidental.
In August 2021, Mohanlal receivedUAE Golden Visa.[246]
Mohanlal's career spans four decades, during which he has acted in over 325 films and produced and co-produced films under three production houses—Casino Films, Cheers Films, andPranavam Arts International. He works predominantly inMalayalam cinema, his acting credits also include someBollywood,Tamil,Telugu andKannada films.[247] Mohanlal has occasionally acted in someprofessional plays and has also appeared in a few short films. He has recorded over 31 songs, most of them for the films in which he has acted. In television, Mohanlal is the host of the reality showBigg Boss onAsianet, since the start of thefirst season.[248]
In a career spanning near forty years, Mohanlal has received numerous accolades and honours both competitive and honorary, among them are fiveNational Film Awards, nineKerala State Film Awards andFilmfare Awards South. TheGovernment of India honoured him withPadma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 2001 andPadma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in 2019,[9] for his contributions to the arts. In 2025, theGovernment of India felicitated him with theDadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest accolade in the field of Indian cinema, at the71st National Film Awards.[13] He was conferred withhonorary Doctor of Letters bySree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in 2010,[19][249] and theUniversity of Calicut in 2018.[250]
In 2008, while filming forKurukshetra, in which he plays anIndian Army officer, Mohanlal expressed his interest to join theTerritorial Army of India. But he could not, as men above the age of 42 are not eligible to join the volunteer force.[251] On 9 July 2008, he was formally inducted to the Territorial Army in the honorary rank oflieutenant colonel by then Army ChiefDeepak Kapoor. He is the first actor to receive the honour.[252][253] In 2012, he was bestowed with an honorary title ofBlack belt inTaekwondo fromKukkiwon,South Korea. He is the firstSouth Indian actor to be honoured with the title.[31][254]
the film has been having a lukewarm response from the critics and the audiences.
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