‘Dad was very worried…’: Dulquer on Mammootty’s concerns about Lokah: Chapter 1

Actor Dulquer Salmaan has revealed that his father, veteran actor Mammootty, was initially apprehensive about him taking on ‘Lokah: Chapter 1-Chandra’, but later turned “really proud” of the film’s success.

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter India, Dulquer recalled how Mammootty had expressed concern when he took the plunge into producing the ambitious dark fantasy superhero film. “My dad was very worried about the cost going up for the film,” Dulquer said.

The actor-producer added that acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, father of lead actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, had also questioned his decision. “What were you thinking? How did you know? Why would you take this bet? Why didn't you make a small film? I told him honestly — I didn’t know. I just believed in the idea. It felt right. My dad was worried too. They all thought we were a little mad, but they’re very proud now,” Dulquer recalled.

Dulquer stressed that he wanted his production house Wayfarer Films to stand apart from his personal brand. “I kind of want it (Wayfarer) to be a standalone entity. I am super greedy about movies. I want to have a great filmography of my own, and I want the company also to have a great filmography of its own with or without me. For me, that is more exciting than me producing my own superhero movie,” he explained.

Following Lokah’s success, Dulquer said Mammootty’s perspective changed. “He’s really proud of the film,” he noted.

Lokah: Chapter 1 — Chandra, directed by Dominic Arun, stars Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen, Sandy Master and others. Released on August 28, 2025, the film has become the second-highest-grossing Malayalam movie of all time, winning acclaim for its world-building, performances, visuals, and soundtrack.