Editing Mohanlal (section)

{{short description|Indian actor and producer}}
{{for|the film|Mohanlal (film)}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Indian name|Mohanlal|Viswanathan}}
{{Infobox person
| years_active       = 1978–present
| name               = Mohanlal
| native_name        = 
| image              = Mohanlal Viswanathan BNC.jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = Mohanlal in 2015
| birth_name         = Mohanlal Viswanathan<ref>{{cite web|author=President of India|title=President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Mohanlal|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9LwAdl84ys|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[President of India]]|access-date=29 September 2022|date=22 March 2019|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929110315/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9LwAdl84ys&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=തനിക്ക് ജാതിവാൽ ഇല്ലാത്തതിന് കാരണം പറഞ്ഞ് മോഹൻലാൽ|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/entertainment/movie-news/actor-mohanlal-reveals-the-secret-of-his-name-558738|access-date=29 September 2022|work=[[Madhyamam]]|date=25 August 2020|language=ml|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929113918/https://www.madhyamam.com/entertainment/movie-news/actor-mohanlal-reveals-the-secret-of-his-name-558738|url-status=live}}</ref>
| nickname           = Lal, Lalu, Lalettan
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|05|21}}
| birth_place        = [[Elanthoor]], [[Kollam district|Kollam]], [[Kerala]] (present-day [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]], Kerala, India)
| alma_mater         = [[Mahatma Gandhi College]] ([[BCom]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer|distributor|singer}}
| works              = [[Mohanlal filmography|Full list]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Suchitra|1988}}
| children           = 2, including [[Pranav Mohanlal]]
| relatives          = [[K. Balaji]] {{small|(father-in-law)}}<br />[[Suresh Balaje]] {{small|(brother-in-law)}}<br />[[B. Unnikrishnan]] {{small|(relative)}} <ref>{{cite video |people=24 News |date=2025-03-23 |title=പ്രകൃതിയോട് ചേർന്ന് പഴമ കൈവിടാതെ മോഹൻലാലിൻറെ തറവാട് വീട് |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=1zTaC-AaaBdWUAAy&v=H8iRlz__KC4&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2025-03-23 |time=6:13 |publisher=YouTube Channel Name}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|thecompleteactor.com}}
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Mohanlal|Full list]]
| honours            = {{plainlist|
*[[File:Padma Shri Ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Padma Shri]] (2001)
*[[File:Padma Bhushan Ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Padma Bhushan]] (2019)
}}
| module             = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes
| allegiance          = {{flag|India}}
| branch              = {{army|India}}
| serviceyears        = 2009–present
| rank                = [[File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg|10px]] [[Lieutenant colonel]] ([[Title of honor|Hon.]])
| unit                = {{flagicon image|Territorial Army (Flag).svg}} [[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]]
}}
}}
'''Mohanlal Viswanathan''' ({{IPA|ml|moːhɐnlaːl ʋiʃʋʷɐn̪aːt̪ʰɐn|IPA}}; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as '''Mohanlal''', is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in  [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]], [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]], [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] and [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]] films.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=P. k Ajith|date=21 May 2020|title=On Mohanlal's 60th birthday, remembering 10 of his finest performances|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/on-mohanlals-60th-birthday-remembering-10-of-his-finest-performances/article31638507.ece|access-date=28 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612102647/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/on-mohanlals-60th-birthday-remembering-10-of-his-finest-performances/article31638507.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kumar">{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=P. k Ajith|date=20 May 2020|title=Mohanlal at 60: An actor par excellence|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mohanlal-at-60-an-actor-par-excellence/article31633617.ece|access-date=28 August 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=19 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619123905/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mohanlal-at-60-an-actor-par-excellence/article31633617.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="india.com">{{Cite web|date=21 May 2020|title=Happy Birthday, Mohanlal: 11 Lesser-Known And Interesting Facts About The Top Malayalam Star|url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/malayalam-news-happy-birthday-mohanlal-11-lesser-known-and-interesting-facts-about-the-top-malayalam-star-4035296/|access-date=28 August 2020|website=India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News {{!}} India.com|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609145515/https://www.india.com/entertainment/malayalam-news-happy-birthday-mohanlal-11-lesser-known-and-interesting-facts-about-the-top-malayalam-star-4035296/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in [[Mohanlal filmography|more than 400 films]].<ref name="Kumar"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 May 2022 |title='The complete actor' is not just a sobriquet, but Mohanlal's legacy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-complete-actor-is-not-just-a-sobriquet-but-mohanlal-legacy-7926705/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521064533/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-complete-actor-is-not-just-a-sobriquet-but-mohanlal-legacy-7926705/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] honoured him with [[Padma Shri]] in 2001,<ref name="Padma Awards2">{{cite web|date=2015|title=Padma Awards|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2015|access-date=21 July 2015|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India}}</ref> and [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2019, India's fourth and third highest [[Orders, decorations, and medals of India|civilian honours]],<ref name="Padmabhushan2">{{Cite web|date=25 January 2019|title=Mohanlal conferred with Padma Bhushan|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/mohanlal-padma-bhushan-kader-khan-manoj-bajpayee-prabhudheva-shankar-mahadevan-5555516/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126001318/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/mohanlal-padma-bhushan-kader-khan-manoj-bajpayee-prabhudheva-shankar-mahadevan-5555516/|archive-date=26 January 2019|access-date=25 January 2019|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> for his contributions to [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]]. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of [[lieutenant colonel]] in the [[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 July 2009|title=Malayalam superstar Mohanlal joins Territorial Army|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/malayalam-superstar-mohanlal-joins-territorial-army/story-O6L4Kpu19jVG6wi0uejIAK.html|access-date=25 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725181929/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/malayalam-superstar-mohanlal-joins-territorial-army/story-O6L4Kpu19jVG6wi0uejIAK.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mohanlal enters Territorial Army training unit|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2010/mar/26/mohanlal-enters-territorial-army-training-unit-142466.html|access-date=25 July 2021|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725181928/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2010/mar/26/mohanlal-enters-territorial-army-training-unit-142466.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mohanlal was named as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema" by [[CNN]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=100 Years of Cinema: The men who changed the face of Indian films |url=https://www.news18.com/photogallery/movies/100-years-of-cinema-the-men-who-changed-the-face-of-indian-films-894555.html |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108064500/https://www.news18.com/photogallery/movies/100-years-of-cinema-the-men-who-changed-the-face-of-indian-films-894555.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mohanlal made his acting debut at age 18 in the Malayalam film ''[[Thiranottam]]'' in 1978, but the film was delayed in its release for 25 years due to censorship issues. His screen debut was in the 1980 romance film ''[[Manjil Virinja Pookkal]]'', in which he played the antagonist.<ref name="rediff"/><ref name="thiranottam">{{cite news|title=I have nothing to prove in Bollywood: Mohanlal|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/242650/i-have-nothing-prove-bollywood.html|access-date=11 January 2017|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|date=17 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113014138/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/242650/i-have-nothing-prove-bollywood.html|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He continued to do villainous roles and rose to secondary lead roles in the following years. By the mid-1980s, he established himself as a bankable leading actor and attained stardom after starring in several successful films in 1986; the crime drama ''[[Rajavinte Makan]]'' released that year heightened his stardom.<ref name="rediff">{{cite web|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|title=25 years, 25 landmarks|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/mohan1/20030903.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=21 July 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721123434/https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/mohan1/20030903.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal prefers to work in Malayalam films, but he has also appeared in other language films. Some of his best known non-Malayalam films include the Tamil political drama ''[[Iruvar]]'' (1997), the Hindi crime drama ''[[Company (2002 film)|Company]]'' (2002) and the Telugu film ''[[Janatha Garage]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite news|last=Khan|first=Ujala Ali|title=Reigning southern stars|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/bollywood/reigning-southern-stars|access-date=11 January 2017|work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]|date=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113092556/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/bollywood/reigning-southern-stars|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rajpal|first=Roktim|title=Mohanlal turns 55: 8 performances that prove he is the most bankable, successful star of Indian cinema|url=http://www.news18.com/news/movies/mohanlal-turns-55-8-performances-that-prove-he-is-the-most-bankable-successful-star-of-indian-cinema-994811.html|access-date=11 January 2017|work=[[News18]]|date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113195555/http://www.news18.com/news/movies/mohanlal-turns-55-8-performances-that-prove-he-is-the-most-bankable-successful-star-of-indian-cinema-994811.html|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mohanlal has won five [[National Film Awards]]{{mdash}}two [[National Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]], a [[National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film)|Special Jury Mention]] and a [[National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film)|Special Jury Award]] for acting, and an award for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film]] (as producer), also nine [[Kerala State Film Awards]] and [[Filmfare Awards South]] and [[List of awards and nominations received by Mohanlal|numerous other accolades]]. He received [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]]s from [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]] in 2010<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/17/stories/2010031760500700.htm|title=Mohanlal, Pookutty get D.Litt.|date=17 March 2010|access-date=18 May 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611191903/http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/17/stories/2010031760500700.htm|archive-date=11 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[University of Calicut]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/calicut-university-confers-d-litt-on-mohanlal-p-t-usha-118012900409_1.html|title=Calicut University confers D.Litt on Mohanlal, P.T.Usha|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=29 January 2018|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129195119/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/calicut-university-confers-d-litt-on-mohanlal-p-t-usha-118012900409_1.html|archive-date=29 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mohanlal is also known for his philanthropic endeavours. He founded the [[ViswaSanthi Foundation]], a non-profit charitable organization, to create and deliver high-impact and focused programs to the underprivileged sections of society in the areas of healthcare and education.<ref>{{cite news|author=Express News Service|title=Mohanlal donates robot for fighting Covid-19|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/apr/26/mohanlal-donates-robot-for-fighting-covid-19-2135358.html|access-date=21 July 2020|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=26 April 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721123426/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/apr/26/mohanlal-donates-robot-for-fighting-covid-19-2135358.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ViswaSanthi Foundation|url=https://www.viswasanthifoundation.com/about/founder-message|access-date=16 July 2021|website=www.viswasanthifoundation.com|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716073121/https://www.viswasanthifoundation.com/about/founder-message|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mohanlal launches project to raise aid for children's heart surgeries|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/mohanlal-launches-project-to-raise-aid-for-children-s-heart-surgeries-kerala-1.4019081|access-date=21 July 2020|work=[[Mathrubhumi]]|date=6 August 2019|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721123429/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/mohanlal-launches-project-to-raise-aid-for-children-s-heart-surgeries-kerala-1.4019081|url-status=live}}</ref>