Mohanlal Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mohanlal

• Mohanlal grew up in his maternal house in Mudavanmugal, Thiruvananthapuram.

  Mohanlal’s childhood picture with his parents and brother

• His father did not want him to use their caste Nair as Mohanlal’s surname, so he kept his name only Mohanlal.

• While he was in class 6, for the first time he acted in his school’s stage play ‘Computer Boy’ in which he played the role of a 90-year-old man. He also won Best Actor for his role.

  Mohanlal during his school days

• At a very young age, he started his training in wrestling and martial arts. From 1977-1978, he was Kerala state wrestling champion. In 2013, he received a blackbelt in the Korean martial art Taekwondo.

  Mohanlal in Kerala State Wrestling Championship

• In 1997, the Malayalam film ‘Guru’ was sent as India’s official entry to the Oscars starring Mohanlal. It was the first Malayalam film sent to the Oscars.

• While he was in college, Mohanlal, along with his friends, started Bharath Cine Group and started shooting a film titled ‘Thiranottam.’ However, due to censorship, the film was delayed for 25 years.

• In the 1980s, he appeared in many Malayalam films like ‘Thenum Vayambum’ (1981), ‘Guru Dakshina’ (1983), Ninnishtam Ennishtam (1986; 100th film), ‘T. P. Balagopalan M.A.’ (1986), and ‘Kireedam’ (1989). By the 1990s, he had become a well-known actor in the Malayalam film industry.

  Ninnishtam Ennishtam

• In 1980, he played the role of antagonist in the Malayalam film ‘Manjil Virinja Pookkal.’

  Mohanlal in a still from Manjil Virinja Pookkal

• He donated his first salary of Rs. 2,000 to the nearby St. Antony’s orphanage; the salary was given by Malika C Devi, the retired Corporation Council Secretary for the Malayalam film ‘Manjil Virinja Pookkal’ (1980).

• In 1987, he appeared in the radio drama Jeevanulla Prathimakal, broadcasted on All India Radio. The show was re-broadcasted on 27 September 2010.

• Mohanlal has produced many Malayalam films like ‘Nadodikkattu’ (1987), ‘His Highness Abdulla’ (1990), ‘Mithunam’ (1993), ‘Harikrishnans’ (1998), and ‘Kandahar’ (2010).

  Kandahar

• He then appeared in many Malayalam films including ‘Gandharvam’ (1993; 200th film), ‘Vanaprastham’ (1999), ‘Snehaveedu’ (2011; 30th film), ‘Drishyam’ (2013), ‘Pulimurugan’ (2016), ‘Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol’ (2017), and ‘Drishyam 2’ (2021).

  Drishyam 2

• He has acted in various Tamil films like ‘Iruvar’ (1997), ‘Pop Carn’ (2003), ‘Unnaipol Oruvan’ (2009), ‘Jilla’ (2014), and ‘Kaappaan’ (2010).

  Unnaipol Oruvan

• As a narrator/voice-over artist, he has worked in various Malayalam films such as ‘Kallu Kondoru Pennu’ (1998), ‘Ennum Eppozhum’ (2015), ‘C/O Saira Banu’ (2017), ‘Pathonpatham Noottandu’ (2022), and ‘King of Kotha’ (2023).

• He is the only South Indian actor who got the Mother Teressa Charity Award in 2000.

• Mohanlal has also acted in a few Hindi films such as ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’ (2007), ‘Halla Bol’ (2008), and ‘Tezz’ (2012).

  Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag

• He has performed in various theatre plays like ‘Karnabharam’ (2001; Sanskrit), ‘Kadhayattam’ (2003; Malayalam), Maya Ravan (2008; English), ‘Vikramōrvaśīyam’ (2010; Sanskrit), and ‘Naga’ (2015; Malayalam).

  Mohanlal in the theatre play Karnabharam

• He has endorsed various brands. In 2001, he became the first film actor to endorse common dhotis of the MCR brand.

• Mohanlal has been appointed as the goodwill/brand ambassador of various government organisations and NGOs such as the AIDS awareness campaign by Kerala AIDS Control Society 2007, Kerala Athletics 2009, Subhayatra 2015, Mrithasanjeevani 2016, and the tuberculosis eradication campaign by the Kerala government’s health department in 2021.

  Mohanlal as Goodwill Ambassador of Kerala Athletics 2009

• In 2008, he underwent 18 months of escape artist training under the Magician Gopinath Muthukad. He planned to perform a stunt Burning Illusion in Thiruvananthapuram, but later it was cancelled as it was considered dangerous. Magician Samraj protested against the act and later it got shelved.

  Mohanlal performing a magic act

• In 2009, he co-founded an arts centre for performing arts and music named Jose Thomas Performing Arts Centre (JTPAC) in Thrippunithura, Kochi.

• He wrote the screenplay of the Malayalam film ‘Swapnamalika’ in 2011.

• He was captain of the Kerala Strikers team in the CCL (Celebrity Cricket League), held in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

  Mohanlal with Kerala Strikers team

• In 2013, he was appointed as one of the brand ambassadors of Kochi International Half Marathon.

• He started his music band Lalisom-The Lal Effect in 2014.

  Lalisom-The Lal Effect

• Mohanlal has appeared in a few Malayalam short films like ‘Punchirikku Parasparam’ (2015), ‘Lodal Loda Lodalu’ (2016), ‘Amar Jawan Amar Bharath’ (2017), and ‘Family’ (2020).

  Lodal Loda Lodalu

• In 2015, he worked as a reporter in the inauguration episode of Sanskrit News which aired on the news channel Janam TV.

  Mohanlal reporting for a Sanskrit news channel

• Some of his Telugu films are ‘Manamantha’ (2016) and ‘Janatha Garage’ (2016).

  Janatha Garage

• In 2016, his blog titled ‘How can we live after the death of India,’ received huge criticism from the JNU students for talking about the issue of nationalism instead of talking about problems in JNU at that time. The students of the university protested against him.

• He has hosted various Malayalam TV shows such as ‘Top Singer Season 1’ (2019), ‘Onavillu’ (2021), ‘Top Singer Season 2’ (2021), and ‘Top Singer Season 2’ (2023).

  Mohanlal in Top Singers

• He has hosted six seasons of the reality TV show Bigg Boss Malayalam.

  Mohanlal in Bigg Boss Malayalam

• In 2018, he was appointed the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

• He received UAE’s Golden Visa in August 2021.

  Mohanlal receiving UAE’s Golden Visa

• He owns a few private firms such as:

1. Max Lab Cinemas and Entertainment LLP
2. Dreamstreams LLP
3. Uniroyal Marine Exports Ltd
4. Earthstar Hotels and Holiday Homes Priva Te Limited
5. Visual Magic AVGC Private Limited
6. Vismayasmax Animations Academy and Studios Private Limited
7. Santham Retirement Villages (India) Private Limited
8. Navarasa Creations Private Limited
9. Laab M Screens Private Limited
10. Vismayas Multiplex Private Limited
11. Vismayas Multiplex (Shornur) Private Limited

• He is an avid animal lover. He once had more than 30 pet animals at his home. One of his pet dogs’ names is Bailey.

  Mohanlal with his pet dog

• Before he got married, his wife was one of his fans. When they decided to get married, initially, their horoscope did not match, but later, it was found that there was some human error in matching their horoscopes.

• Some of his autobiographies are Mohanlal Kayarivanna Padavukal, Mukharagam, Mohanlal- The Versatile Genius, and Messenger of Love.

  Mukharagam

• He has authored a few books like Gurumukhaṅṅaḷ, ദൈവത്തിനുള്ള തുറന്ന കത്തുകള്‍ (Open Letters to God), മോഹന്‍ ലാലിന്റെ യാത്രകള്‍ (Travels of Mohanlal), and Mohanlal An Actors Blog Book.

  Mohanlal An Actor’s Blog Book

• He is the first Indian actor to become the honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.

• He has his official blog site, and an Android app as well.

  Mohanlal’s blog site

• He is the owner of Pranavam Arts (Film Production Company) and Pranamam (Film Distribution Agency).

• He is the director of a major Kozhikode-based seafood export company named Uni Royal Marian Exports.

• He has a collection of exclusive paintings.

• He owns many restaurants such as Mohanlal’s Tastebuds in Dubai, Travancore Court in Kochi, and The Harbour Market in Bangalore.

• He is a big fan of cricket.

• He is a religious person. He has travelled to various countries to visit various religious places.

  Mohanlal with idols of lord Krishna and lord Ganesha

• He is an independent director of Clenergen India Private Limited.

• He once shared that he wanted to start a few schools.

• In 2024, his intentions were questioned for not attending the opening ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Later, Mohanlal said that he was occupied with his film promotions, so he could not attend the event.

• Mohanlal has been featured on the cover of various magazines like Kerala Kaumudi, Spring, and Star & Style.

  Mohanlal featured on a magazine cover

• In August 2024, Mohanlal resigned as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following a series of sexual misconduct allegations by Malayali actresses against several well-known actors. The governing committee was also dissolved.