‘Mohanlal should play Dadasaheb Phalke in his biopic’: Ram Gopal Varma

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma stated that actor Mohanlal, who was recently conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, should portray Dadasaheb Phalke in a biopic.

Varma tweeted Wednesday, “Now that Mohanlal has been conferred the #DadasahebPhalkeAward , isn’t it apt that Mohanlal should play #DadasahebPhalke in his biopic.”

This comes after Varma’s earlier take on Mohanlal’s award when he wrote on social media, “I don't know much about #Dadasaheb Phalke except that he's made the 1st ever film, which I dint see and I never met anyone who saw it, but from what I saw and know of @Mohanlal, I think Dadasaheb Phalke should be given the MOHANLAL AWARD.”

At a press conference in Kochi, Mohanlal was asked about Varma’s comment. He said that Ram Gopal Varma is someone who “cracks jokes all the time. I see it as black humour. I share a great friendship with him and had the chance to act in one of his cult films, Company.”

Meanwhile, Mohanlal, who has been in the industry for five decades, was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023 by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday.

65-year-old Malayalam actor dedicated his award to the cinema of his state as well as the audience.

"As a representative of the Malayalam film industry, I am deeply humbled to be the youngest recipient and only the second ever from the state to be bestowed with this national accreditation. This moment is not mine alone; it belongs to the Malayalam cinema fraternity.

"I accept this award as the blessing of my forerunners, the legendary masters of Malayalam cinema past and present. I dedicate it to them, to the vibrant Malayalam film industry and the discerning and diligent audience of Kerala who have nurtured our art with love and insight," he said in his speech.