Mohanlal (born 21 May 1960) is an Indian actor, producer and director and one of the biggest stars in the history of Malayalam cinema. Often called “the complete actor”, he has appeared in about 350 films over more than four decades. He has won multiple National Film Awards, and in 2025 he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest film honour.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Mohanlal Viswanathan |
| Born | 21 May 1960, Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India |
| Age | 66 |
| Profession | Actor, producer, director |
| Debut | Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980) |
| Spouse | Suchitra |
| Children | Pranav (actor), Vismaya |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2019), Dadasaheb Phalke Award |
Early Life
Mohanlal was born in Elanthoor in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district and grew up in Thiruvananthapuram. His father was a senior government official. Mohanlal was a state-level wrestling champion as a student and made a film with friends while still in college.
Career
Mohanlal made his official debut as the villain in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980). In the mid-1980s he moved into lead roles and became a superstar. He was equally at home in comedy, action, romance and serious drama, in films such as Kireedam (1989).
Mohanlal won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Bharatham (1991) and for Vanaprastham (1999), in which he played a Kathakali artist. He also won a special jury award and a National Award as a producer.
The thriller Drishyam (2013) was remade in several languages, and Pulimurugan (2016) was the first Malayalam film to earn ₹100 crore. His later hits include Lucifer (2019), L2: Empuraan (2025), Thudarum (2025) and Drishyam 3 (2026). He made his directing debut with the fantasy film Barroz (2024). In 2026 he also starred with Mammootty in Patriot.
Personal Life
Mohanlal married Suchitra in 1988, and they have a son, Pranav, who is also an actor, and a daughter, Vismaya. In 2009 he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Mohanlal born?
Mohanlal was born on 21 May 1960 in Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
What honours has Mohanlal received?
Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2019), Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
