Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023, India’s highest honour in cinema, on 23 September 2025 at the 71st National Film Awards in New Delhi. The Malayalam star has acted in more than 400 films since 1980, won five National Film Awards and received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
The award came during one of the busiest phases of his career, with three major hits in 2025 and Drishyam 3 in 2026. Here is a clear look at his journey and the milestones that led to the honour.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award announcement
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the award on 20 September 2025. It said Mohanlal was chosen on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee for his contribution to Indian cinema, as reported by News On AIR.
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President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Vigyan Bhawan on 23 September 2025, at the same ceremony where Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey and Rani Mukerji received their first National Awards. 12th Fail won Best Feature Film that year. Mohanlal received a standing ovation when he went up on stage, according to Khaleej Times.
Early years: From villain to star (1978 to 1986)
Mohanlal was born on 21 May 1960 in Elanthoor, Kerala. His first film, Thiranottam (1978), did not get a release for about 25 years. His screen debut was Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), in which he played the antagonist.
He moved from negative roles to lead parts over the next few years. Rajavinte Makan (1986) is widely seen as the film that made him a major star in Malayalam cinema.
The acclaimed phase (1989 to 1999)
This period brought most of his biggest acting honours:
- Kireedam (1989): Earned him a National Film Award Special Jury Mention.
- Bharatham (1991): Won him his first National Film Award for Best Actor.
- Iruvar (1997): Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film, one of his most noted roles outside Malayalam.
- Vanaprastham (1999): Won him his second National Award for Best Actor.
In all, he has five National Film Awards: two for Best Actor, a Special Mention, a Special Jury Award for acting, and one for Best Feature Film as a producer.
Box office records (2000 to 2019)
Narasimham (2000) became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. In Hindi, he played a police officer in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company (2002), which won him IIFA and Star Screen awards for best supporting actor.
Drishyam (2013), directed by Jeethu Joseph, was remade in several Indian languages and later got two sequels. Pulimurugan (2016) was the first Malayalam film to gross over Rs 100 crore, and Lucifer (2019), directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, crossed Rs 200 crore including rights sales. He also appeared in the Telugu hit Janatha Garage (2016).
Honours beyond cinema
Mohanlal received the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019. In 2009, he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, the first actor in India to receive this rank.
In December 2024, he also turned director with Barroz, a 3D fantasy film that released on Christmas.
2025: Three hits in one year
2025 was one of his strongest years at the box office:
- L2: Empuraan (27 March 2025): The Lucifer sequel, again directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. It grossed about Rs 266 crore worldwide and became the first Malayalam film to cross Rs 250 crore.
- Thudarum (25 April 2025): A family thriller directed by Tharun Moorthy, with Shobana as his co-star. It grossed about Rs 234 crore worldwide on a reported budget of Rs 28 crore.
- Hridayapoorvam (2025): Another success, which joined the list of the year’s top Malayalam grossers.
2026: Drishyam 3
Drishyam 3 released worldwide on 21 May 2026, Mohanlal’s 66th birthday. Jeethu Joseph wrote and directed it, and Antony Perumbavoor produced it under Aashirvad Cinemas.
The film got mixed reviews but grossed about Rs 237 crore worldwide, the highest in the franchise, according to its Wikipedia record. It started streaming on Amazon Prime Video on 18 June 2026 in Malayalam, with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dubbed versions.
Where to start with Mohanlal’s films
If you are new to his work, these films give a good spread of his range:
- Kireedam (1989): A drama about a young man whose plans fall apart.
- Bharatham (1991): The musical drama that won him his first National Award for Best Actor.
- Iruvar (1997): His Tamil collaboration with Mani Ratnam.
- Drishyam (2013): The thriller that started the franchise.
- Lucifer (2019): The political action drama that led to L2: Empuraan.
Why the award matters for Malayalam cinema
Mohanlal is only the second Malayalam film personality to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, after filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan in 2004. The honour recognises a career that has spanned more than four decades and several languages.
The award carries a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.
For more profiles of Indian stars, visit our Celebs section, and for new releases, see Movies.
Frequently asked questions
When did Mohanlal receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu on 23 September 2025, at the 71st National Film Awards in New Delhi.
How many National Awards has Mohanlal won?
He has won five National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Bharatham (1991) and Vanaprastham (1999).
What was Mohanlal’s debut film?
His screen debut was Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), where he played the villain. His first film shot, Thiranottam (1978), released only years later.
Where can I watch Drishyam 3?
Drishyam 3 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Malayalam, with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada versions.
