'Acting Emperor' Mohanlal turns 66
Mohanlal, the legendary icon and "acting emperor" of Malayalam cinema, celebrates his 66th birthday today. Tributes and heartwarming wishes have been pouring in from devoted fans and film industry stalwarts alike to honour the beloved star.
Over a stellar career spanning more than four decades, Mohanlal has amassed an enviable collection of accolades, including four National Film Awards, nine Kerala State Film Awards, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Bhushan. He was also conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in cinema, in 2025.
Mohanlal’s distinct and effortless acting style transcends mere awards. Beyond Malayalam cinema, he has delivered unforgettable performances in the Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada film industries.
Early life and formative Years
Born on 21 May 1960 in Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, to Vishwanathan Nair and Santhakumari, Mohanlal spent his childhood at his ancestral home in Mudavanmugal. He began his education at a local school in Mudavanmugal, where he formed lifelong friendships with future filmmakers and musicians like Priyadarshan and M.G. Sreekumar—bonds that would profoundly shape his life and career.
He later completed his schooling at Model School in Thiruvananthapuram, where his acting prowess was evident from an early age. Whilst in the sixth form (sixth grade), he was named the school’s best actor—a prestigious award typically reserved for senior pupils. Mohanlal pursued his higher education at Mahatma Gandhi College in Thiruvananthapuram. It was here that his close-knit circle, particularly Priyadarshan and Maniyanpilla Raju, cemented their passion for cinema, with many going on to secure pivotal roles in the history of Malayalam film.
From unreleased debut to superstardom
Mohanlal’s first foray into cinema was in the 1978 film Thiranottam, produced by his friends under the banner of the Bharat Cine Group. He played a comedic role, but due to complications with the censor board, the film never saw the light of day.
His official silver-screen debut came in Fazil’s 1980 romance Manjil Virinja Pookkal, starring Shankar and Poornima. Mohanlal played the menacing antagonist, Narendran, instantly capturing the audience's attention. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he evolved from a versatile supporting actor and villain into a definitive leading man. His transition to undisputed superstardom was permanently sealed with the massive success of the Thampi Kannanthanam-directed crime drama, Rajavinte Makan.
Defining characters of Indian cinema
Mohanlal’s filmography boasts some of the most culturally significant characters in Indian cinema:
The romantic Solomon in Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal
The relatable, comedic Dasan in Nadodikkattu
The enigmatic Jayakrishnan in Thoovanathumbikal
The tragic Vishnu in Chithram
The doomed youth Sethumadhavan in Kireedam
The grieving classical singer Gopi in Bharatham
The tortured dance maestro Nandagopan in Kamaladalam
The fierce feudal lord Mangalassery Neelakandan in Devaasuram
The rebellious Aadu Thoma in Spadikam
The compassionate Rajiv Menon in Dasharatham
The tragic, selfless Rameshan Nair in Thanmathra
In 1997, Mohanlal starred in Guru, a profound cinematic exploration of communal strife and spirituality. Directed by Rajiv Anchal, the film achieved the rare distinction of being chosen as India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards.
Crossing borders and shaking the box office
Mohanlal’s brilliance extended far beyond Kerala. His performance in Mani Ratnam’s Tamil magnum opus Iruvar, loosely based on the lives of M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, and J. Jayalalithaa, remains legendary. Playing the protagonist Anandan alongside a star-studded cast including Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Revathi, and Nasser, Mohanlal delivered a tour de force. Although Iruvar clinched National Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography, Mohanlal’s omission from the Best Actor category sparked intense national debate at the time. Reportedly, the coveted national honour eluded him by a whisker on 13 separate occasions.
He also earned critical acclaim in Bollywood with Ram Gopal Varma’s underworld drama Company.
From 1996 onwards, filmmakers and producers capitalised heavily on his immense stardom, crafting larger-than-life blockbusters such as Aaram Thampuran, Ustaad, Narasimham, and Naran. Whilst the initial wave of these mass-action films shattered box-office records, they eventually drew criticism for being formulaic.
The ultimate box office brand
Today, after forty years in the industry, "Mohanlal" is no longer just a name; it is a colossal brand. When it comes to the Kerala box office, Mohanlal remains the trendsetter.
In 2016, his action-adventure film Pulimurugan, directed by Vysakh, made history by becoming the first Malayalam film to enter the prestigious ₹100-crore (approx. £9.3 million) club. He shattered his own record in 2019 with the political thriller Lucifer, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, which went on to script history by entering the elite ₹200-crore club.
As he enters his 66th year, the veteran actor shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to rule both the hearts of his audience and the economics of the film industry.