Mohanlal

Quick Introduction

Full Name	Mohanlal Viswanathan
Birth Date	21 May 1960
Age	63 years (as of 2023)
Profession	Indian Actor, Film Producer, Playback Singer, Film Distributor, and Director
Father	Vishwanathan Nair
Mother	Shanthakumari
Spouse	Suchitra Mohanlal
Children	Pranav Mohanlal, Vismaya Mohanlal
Religion	Hindu
Nationality	Indian

About Mohanlal

Mohanlal is a famous Indian actor, singer, and producer known for his work in the Malayalam film industry. He became a big name in Indian cinema due to his versatile acting. Mohanlal started his acting journey in 1980 with the movie Manjil Virinja Pookal.

Personal Life and Education

Mohanlal was born on 21 May 1960 in Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, to his parents Vishwanathan Nair and Shanthakumari. His dad was a lawyer and worked for the government, and his mom was a housewife. He grew up in Trivandrum at his mom's house and went to Mudavanmukal LP School before joining Model School, Trivandrum.

For his college studies, he went to Mahatma Gandhi College in Trivandrum.

Physical Details

Height: Mohanlal is 172 centimeters tall.
Weight: He weighs around 82 kilograms.
Chest: His chest measures 42 inches.
Waist: The waist measurement is 36 inches.
Biceps: Mohanlal's biceps have a circumference of 13 inches.

Career Debut

Mohanlal started his career in the movies with his first Malayalam film "Manjil Virinja Pookkal" in 1980. He made his Bollywood debut in "Company" in 2002 and entered the Tamil film industry with "Chandramukhi" in 2005.

Not just an actor, Mohanlal also stepped into film production with his debut production, "Bharatham" in Malayalam in 1991. Additionally, he showcased his singing talent with his debut song "Sindoora Megham Shrungara Kavyam" in Malayalam in 1985.

Family

In Mohanlal's life, family means a lot. He's happily married to Suchitra Mohanlal since April 24, 1988, but where they got married is not something shared openly. They have two children together: a son named Pranav and a daughter named Vismaya.

He had an older brother named Pyare Lal, who isn't with us anymore, but there isn't much known about his sisters. Family is special to him, and his own family is a big part of his life.

Career

Mohanlal began his film journey with "Thiranottam" in 1978. His breakthrough came in 1980 with the role of an antagonist in "Manjil Virinja Pookkal". In 1983, he was credited with over 25 films. He explored comic roles in 1984 with Priyadarshan's "Poochakkoru Mookkuthi". Mohanlal's singing debut was in the film "Onnanam Kunnil" in 1985.

In 1986, he won his first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for "T. P. Balagopalan M.A." His role as an underworld don in "Rajavinte Makan" made him popular among teenage audiences. Success continued with films like "Chithram", "Kilukkam", and "Thoovanathumbikal". Notably, he received a Special Jury Award for "Kireedam" and a Best Actor National Award for "Bharatham".

The 1990s brought hits like "His Highness Abdullah" and "Devaasuram". However, films like "Aaram Thamburan" faced criticism for lack of realism. "Iruvar", his first Tamil film in 1997, directed by Mani Ratnam, received critical acclaim and awards.

In 2000, "Narasimham" became a blockbuster, and his Bollywood debut in "Company" earned him the IIFA Star Screen Award. He continued with successes like "Rasathanthram" and "Thanmathra", earning Kerala State Awards. In 2007, he won another Kerala State Award for "Paradesi".

In 2009, Mohanlal appeared in the Tamil movie "Unnaipol Oruvan" with Kamal Haasan. He showcased his versatility in 2010 with films like "Evidam Swargamanu", "Janakan", and "Christian Brothers". Despite lacking a theater background, he debuted on stage in the Sanskrit play "Karnabharam" and later presented "Kadhayattam", depicting memorable characters from Malayalam literature. "Chayamukhi" was his latest play, where he portrayed the role of Bheeman.

Favorites

Mohanlal has some favorite things that he enjoys. His preferred color is brown, and he likes the acting of Kamal Haasan and the late Sridevi. While we have yet to find his favorite food, he has a hobby of collecting antiques and artifacts. Mohanlal also has a film he holds dear, and it is "Unnaipol Oruvan", a Tamil movie from 2009. However, his favorite director and some other details about his favorite films have yet to be discovered. There needs to be more certainty regarding whether he smokes or drinks.

Achievements

Mohanlal's life is filled with fascinating achievements and interests. In sixth grade, at Model School, Thiruvananthapuram, he won his first Best Actor Award for a play called "Computer Boy". He's a skilled wrestler and martial artist, once holding the Kerala state wrestling champion title. During college, he founded Bharath Cine Group and attempted his first film, "Thiranottam", which faced censorship issues and was released much later.

In 1980, his antagonist role in "Manjil Virinja Pookkal" marked his film debut. He donated his first film salary to a nearby orphanage. Mohanlal expanded his talents to radio dramas and received prestigious awards like the Padma Shri and the Mother Teresa Charity Award. He also holds various titles from different spheres, like a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army and a Doctor of Letters.

He's a multifaceted personality - an actor, producer, and occasional singer who has worked in numerous films in Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi languages. Additionally, he's involved in various businesses like film production, owning restaurants, a seafood export company, and a stockbroking firm, and even has plans for launching schools.

Mohanlal is also known for his charitable work, AIDS awareness campaigns, and being the goodwill ambassador of Kerala's athletics and handloom textiles. He has been recognized multiple times in surveys and polls as the most influential and popular Keralite.

He has diverse interests, from owning an impressive collection of paintings to being a cricket enthusiast and a spiritual person who seeks concentration through travel to spiritual places. He has ventured into screenplay writing and is associated with several companies, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Mohanlal and Politics

Mohanlal isn't interested in politics, despite rumors that he might step into that world. He believes it's not his thing and prefers being an actor. Politics demands a lot, and he feels he first needs to prepare for those responsibilities.

Even though he has said no to politics, he has been quite vocal about it on his blog, 'The Complete Actor', and has shared thoughts on political events like the JNU incident. Some consider his views to be right-leaning, but he hasn't clarified them.

One day, he may consider politics, but that would mean giving up his acting career, and it looks like that won't happen for a while. Acting remains his top passion at the moment.

Unconventional Looks and Acting Style

When Mohanlal first joined Malayalam films, some folks weren't too sure about his looks—they thought he didn't fit the typical hero style. People doubted if he could succeed. But when they saw him act, everything changed. His performance on screen captivated everyone. Unlike other stars, his acting felt real and effortless.

Mohanlal didn't just play characters; he lived them so fully that it seemed real. Besides, when he portrayed a villain, he even stole the show from the hero. That's why, even after doing 340 films over four decades, he's still quite a popular and well-liked actor. Critics love his acting, and that's a big reason why he's stayed so engaging for audiences.

Sacrifices to Become a Star

Becoming the best at what you do often means making sacrifices along the way. In a heartfelt message, Mohanlal opened up about missing out on a lot of his kids' childhoods because he was always busy shooting films. He never got to experience their school days and felt regretful about it.

His wife used to remind him that the moments of a child's growth, joy, and laughter are precious and can't be repeated. She often warned that he might later regret missing those moments as a father.

Many successful people realize later in life that some things matter more than the achievements they chase. For Mohanlal, this reflection came when he completed 40 years in the industry. Mohanlal, a shining star in the industry, continues to strive for excellence, balancing being both a character actor and a superstar. His legacy will endure for years to come.

Complete Dominance

During the 70s and 80s, big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, and Vinod Khanna ruled Bollywood. But when it comes to dominating the industry, Mohanlal was the first person, which everyone liked very much. He was like a movie-making machine, releasing a new film every 15 days from 1986 to 1988.

This made it more challenging for other movies to compete. Mohanlal's films were so strong that other releases struggled.

Some other Interesting Facts

He knows wrestling and martial arts.
His first movie salary of Rs. 2,000 went straight to St. Antony's orphanage.
He's the only South Indian actor who received the Mother Teresa Charity Award in 2000.
He's the highest-paid actor in Malayalam films.
He has a house in Burj Khalifa.
He also owns a stockbroking company called Hedge Equities.

National Film Awards

1989: Special Mention for "Kireedam".
1991: Best Actor for "Bharatham".
1999: Best Actor for "Vanaprastha".
1999: Best Feature Film for "Vanaprastha".
2016: Special Jury Award for performances in "Janatha Garage", "Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol", and "Pulimurugan".