Mammootty Biography: Age, Early Life, Films, Family and Awards

Mammootty (born 7 September 1951) is an Indian actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema. In a career of more than five decades he has appeared in about 400 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English. He has won three National Film Awards for Best Actor and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

Quick Facts

Birth name	Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail
Born	7 September 1951, Chandiroor, Kerala, India
Age	75
Profession	Actor, producer
Education	LLB, Government Law College, Ernakulam
Spouse	Sulfath
Children	Dulquer Salmaan (actor), Surumi
Honours	Padma Shri (1998), Padma Bhushan (2026); 3 National Film Awards for Best Actor

Early Life

Mammootty was born in Kerala and grew up in Chempu, near Vaikom. He studied law at Government Law College in Ernakulam and practised as a lawyer for about two years before acting full-time.

Career

Rise to stardom

After a brief appearance in Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971), Mammootty got his first major roles around 1980. By the mid-1980s he was one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars, with hits such as New Delhi (1987).

Acclaimed performances

Mammootty won the National Film Award for Best Actor three times:

A late-career renaissance

In recent years Mammootty has won praise for bold choices such as Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023), Kaathal – The Core (2023) and the black-and-white horror film Bhramayugam (2024). In 2026 he reunited with Mohanlal in Patriot, the first film to bring the two Malayalam stars together in 18 years. He also produces films through his company, Mammootty Kampany.

Personal Life

Mammootty married Sulfath in 1979. Their son, Dulquer Salmaan, is a leading actor in South Indian and Hindi cinema, and they also have a daughter, Surumi.

Selected Filmography

Frequently Asked Questions