Mohanlal and Suchitra Mohanlal have been married since April 28, 1988, but the couple has kept their relationship and family life away from the public eye.

In a recent conversation with Can Channel Media, Suchitra opened up about how she first met the Malayalam superstar, how their relationship progressed and the advice her father gave her before she decided to marry him.

Suchitra recalls meeting Mohanlal for the first time

Suchitra said she first met Mohanlal at a wedding. Since their families already knew each other, she had the opportunity to meet the actor, whom she admired as a fan.

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She recalled approaching Mohanlal and asking for a photograph with him. However, she said she never received a copy of the picture. That first meeting remained a memorable one and eventually developed into something more serious.

When Suchitra later told her family that she wanted to marry Mohanlal, there was reportedly no major objection. She suggested that the proposal be taken forward through actor Sukumari, who was known to her father.

Her father, K Balaji, was a prominent Tamil film producer who had produced several successful films, including Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Billa’. Before giving his approval, however, he wanted his daughter to understand what marrying someone from the film industry could mean.

What did Suchitra’s father tell her before the marriage?

Remembering her father’s advice, Suchitra said he asked her to think carefully before making the decision. She explained that he wanted her to be prepared for the demands and uncertainties that could come with being married to an actor.

“He told me you should think about it first. Because you are going to marry someone who works in an industry like this. Sometimes he stays home, sometimes he goes to a shoot and doesn’t come back for a few days, and if you come with a puffed face, it won’t work. And when you’re in this industry, you hear a lot of things.”

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She continued, “You have to be able to handle all of that well. Your mother is a very calm person. You see your mother adjusting everything. You will have to do the same. If you come back tomorrow and cry, saying, ‘Daddy he’s like this or that,’ I will not let you back into the house. So, you just have to think about everything and decide.”

Her father’s message was straightforward, if she chose to marry an actor, she would have to understand the long shoots, periods away from home and the attention that comes with a public career.

Suchitra says Mohanlal has always cared for her

Suchitra spoke warmly about her married life and said she has no complaints about Mohanlal as a husband.

She recalled a conversation between her father and Mohanlal after their marriage. Her father told the actor, “By taking such good care of my daughter, you have spoiled her.”

Mohanlal responded, “Whatever it is, shouldn’t I take care of her better than you how cared for her?”

Suchitra added that Mohanlal has always treated her with the respect she deserves.

The couple married in 1988 and have two children, son Pranav Mohanlal and daughter Vismaya Mohanlal. While Mohanlal has remained one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars, Suchitra has stayed away from the limelight and maintained a private family life alongside him.