Mohanlal
Born 21 May 1960 ยท Kerala
First Indian actor awarded honorary lieutenant colonel rank in the Territorial Army in 2009.
๐ Add birthday reminderMohanlal Viswanathan, known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema and has also occasionally appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 400 films. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highest civilian honours, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
โจ A detail that surprised us
Mohanlal was a state wrestling champion before debuting in films and was selected for the national wrestling championship in 1978 but chose acting instead.
1. ๐ฌ In 1978, an 18-year-old Mohanlal ( @Mohanlal ) acted in Thiranottam, a film delayed for 25 years due to censorship issues, marking a curious hidden start to his career.
2. ๐ฅ His breakthrough came in 1986 with Rajavinte Makan, a crime drama that propelled him into stardom and changed the face of Malayalam cinema's leading men.
3. ๐ฅ Before acting, Mohanlal was a state wrestling champion in 1977-78, selected for the national championship, but he chose films over the wrestling mat.
4. In 1997, Mohanlal starred in Mani Ratnam's Tamil political drama Iruvar alongside Aishwarya Rai, a film that won two National Film Awards and remains a cult classic.
5. ๐๏ธ In 2009, Mohanlal became the first Indian actor to receive an honorary Lieutenant Colonel rank in the Territorial Army, blending cinema with national service.
6. ๐ By 2019, he had been honored with both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, reflecting his decades-long influence on Indian cinema beyond Kerala.
7. โ What motivated Mohanlal to transition from a near-national wrestling career to becoming an iconic actor with over 400 films and multiple national honors?
Awards & Honours
- ๐ Padma Shri ยท 2001
- ๐ Padma Bhushan ยท 2019
๐ One thing most people don't know
Mohanlal's first film, Thiranottam, shot in 1978, was unreleased for 25 years due to censorship problems, making his official debut Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980).
๐ผ๏ธ Through the Years
๐ The Journey
๐๏ธ Discoveries
๐ฅ Speeches & Recordings
How to Master Life & Cinema: Superstar Mohanlal's Ultimate Advice to the Youth | GDP Podcast
YouTube๐ Curated Sources
๐ฑ What changed because of them
Mohanlal transformed Malayalam cinema by shifting its narrative style and star persona through landmark films like Rajavinte Makan and Iruvar, influencing generations of actors and filmmakers. His recognition by the Indian government, including honorary military rank and civilian awards, expanded the cultural perception of actors as national icons. Additionally, his ViswaSanthi Foundation has impacted healthcare and education for underprivileged communities in Kerala.
๐ฌ Social Buzz
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