Kochi : In a candid conversation with Sai Kiran, Assistant Editor at the Times of India, Malayalam cinema’s undisputed superstar Mohanlal offered a rare glimpse into his unplanned journey to fame, the influence of his father, and the unique compliments he received from Kerala’s political heavyweights.
The actor, who initially pursued a BCom degree because it was “the only available path” and later flirted with the idea of law to fulfill his father’s wishes, revealed his surprising entry into the film world. His father, a law secretary, had pushed him towards law, telling him to “finish your degree, and then think about cinema if you like.”
Mohanlal’s breakthrough, he admits, was almost accidental. “Honestly, when I looked at myself in the mirror each morning, I never thought this face belonged in the cinema (laughs),” he confessed. His gateway was simply a “natural flair for acting,” honed by winning best actor awards in school and college plays like Kayakalpam.
His life changed irreversibly after the film Manjil Virinja Pookkal. “After that film, I just kept working—and I haven’t stopped since,” the veteran actor stated, adding that even today, he is “not 100% convinced this is my ‘career’.”
The respect he earned in the industry was often tied back to his family. Mohanlal fondly recalled the honor he felt when Kerala’s top political figures acknowledged him not just as an actor, but as his father’s son. “My father’s reputation as law secretary may have given me some initial goodwill. Leaders like K Karunakaran, A K Antony, and E K Nayanar would call me ‘Vishwanathan Nairude mone’ instead of Mohanlal (laughs),” he shared, highlighting the respect his father’s career commanded.
The superstar, known for his philosophical outlook, concluded the interview by stating he has “never” planned his life. For him, “planning only matters when it’s about leaving something for the next generation.”
