Editing Mohanlal (section)

===Career expansion (2000–2009)===
[[File:Mohanlal and Madhu.jpg|thumb|alt=Mohanlal talking to actor Madhu
|Mohanlal and [[Madhu (actor)|Madhu]] at [[Association of Malayalam Movie Artists|AMMA]] General Body meeting, 2008]]
In 2000, Mohanlal starred in ''[[Narasimham (film)|Narasimham]]'', playing a rogue with a good heart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1715/17151210.htm|publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|title=Greasepaint, and beyond|last=Krishnankumar|first=R.|date=22 July 2000|access-date=20 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204190956/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1715/17151210.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.<ref name="narasimham">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/jan/24mallu.htm|title=Sleaze time, folks!|work=[[Rediff.com]]|last=Ayyappan|first=R.|date=24 January 2001|access-date=3 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204191304/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/jan/24mallu.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the next two years, Mohanlal was [[Typecasting (acting)|typecasted]] in similar larger-than-life [[action hero]] roles in films such as ''[[Ravanaprabhu]]'' (2001), ''[[Praja]]'' (2001), ''[[Onnaman]]'' (2002), ''[[Thandavam]]'' (2002) and ''[[Chathurangam (2002 film)|Chathurangam]]'' (2002). Except for ''Ravanaprabhu'', these films were widely criticised for their repetitive plots, lewd dialogues, punch lines and male chauvinistic outlook.<ref name="narasimham"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/thandavam-review-malayalam-pclutucejjhjc.html|title=Thandavam|website=[[Sify]]|date=16 August 2002|access-date=6 May 2012|author=Moviebuzz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204191733/http://www.sify.com/movies/thandavam-review-malayalam-pclutucejjhjc.html|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/praja-review-malayalam-pclunFceecebe.html|title=Praja|website=[[Sify]]|author=Moviebuzz|date=24 December 2001|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204191837/http://www.sify.com/movies/praja-review-malayalam-pclunFceecebe.html|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A critic from ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote: "The ''Narasimham'' hangover is terrifically strong and it has, at least for the moment, killed the prospects of good films. I don't see any other reason for the failure of well made female-oriented films like ''[[Mazha]]'' and ''[[Madhuranombarakkattu]]''".<ref name="narasimham"/>

In 2002, Mohanlal played Sreenivasan [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], a [[Mumbai]] police officer,<ref name="rd"/> in his first [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Company (2002 film)|Company]]'', which introduced him to the [[Hindi]]-speaking audience in India and for which he won the [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]] (IIFA) and [[Star Screen Award]] for Best Supporting Actor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/bold-themes-different-roles/article3218428.ece|title=Bold themes, different roles|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=9 June 2006|access-date=3 March 2011|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204192315/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/bold-themes-different-roles/article3218428.ece|archive-date=4 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/image_galleries/iifa_red_carpet_gallery.shtml?4|title=Stars arrive at IIFA awards|work=[[BBC]]|access-date=3 March 2011|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722194226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/image_galleries/iifa_red_carpet_gallery.shtml?4|url-status=live}}</ref> The film dealt with the real-life story of two underworld dons who ruled Mumbai (played by [[Ajay Devgan|Ajay Devgn]] and [[Vivek Oberoi]]). Mohanlal's performance was well received. ''[[The Hindu]]'' noted that the actor is "at his natural best" and "does not look stifled or anxious as other [[South India]]n stars do when they appear in a Hindi movie for the first time".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/04/22/stories/2002042200750300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|last=Palicha|first=Paresh C.|title=Mohanlal at ease in Company|date=22 April 2002|access-date=20 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204193002/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/04/22/stories/2002042200750300.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In a 2010 online poll by Hindifilmnews.com, Mohanlal's performance in ''Company'' was chosen as "The Finest Performance of a Bollywood Actor in the Last Decade (2001–2010)". He was No. 1 in the audiences' list and maintained No. 6 in the critics' list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindifilmnews.com/polls-2/poll-5-the-finest-performance-of-a-bollywood-actor-in-the-last-decade-2001-2010/#.UNNmrXdTGSo|title=Poll-5: The Finest Performance of a Bollywood Actor in the Last Decade (2001–2010)|publisher=Hindifilmnews.com|access-date=21 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627120413/http://www.hindifilmnews.com/polls-2/poll-5-the-finest-performance-of-a-bollywood-actor-in-the-last-decade-2001-2010/#.UNNmrXdTGSo|archive-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

The following year, Mohanlal, trying to change his action hero image,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/28/stories/2002112800890403.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Superstars running scared?|date=28 November 2002|access-date=22 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204200806/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/28/stories/2002112800890403.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> returned to comedic roles with ''[[Kilichundan Mampazham]]'', ''[[Balettan]]'', ''[[Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu]]'' and ''[[Mr. Brahmachari]]''. ''Kilichundan Mampazham'', promoted as a comeback vehicle for the actor, received good reviews and a decent box office collection.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/24/stories/2003042400120203.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|last=Pillai|first=Sreedhar|title=Box-office update|date=28 April 2003|access-date=24 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204201012/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/24/stories/2003042400120203.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kilichundan-mambazham-review-malayalam-pclu1idhbfgij.html|title=Kilichundan Mambazham|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204202732/http://www.sify.com/movies/kilichundan-mambazham-review-malayalam-pclu1idhbfgij.html|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Balettan]]'', directed by [[V. M. Vinu]], was also a commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/01/01/stories/2004010101290200.htm|title=Tinsel world sees a bright picture|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|last1=Venkatraman|first1=Latha|last2=Radhakrishnan|first2=Sankar|date=1 January 2004|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307015933/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/01/01/stories/2004010101290200.htm|archive-date=7 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal played Athanipparambil Balachandran, a bank employee always willing to lend a helping hand to others, who is forced to hide many secrets after his father's death leading to his family's mistrust.<ref name="balettan">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/09/04/stories/2003090401100200.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Mohanlal back to 'chammal' role|last1=Abhijath|last2=Ram|date=4 September 2003|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628023259/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/09/04/stories/2003090401100200.htm|archive-date=28 June 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2004, ''[[Natturajavu]]'' and ''[[Mambazhakkalam]]'' were his only successes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam-cinema-analysis-2004-news-malayalam-kkfvAKceaeasi.html|title=Malayalam cinema- Analysis 2004!|website=[[Sify]]|author=Moviebuzz|date=1 January 2005|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204202246/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam-cinema-analysis-2004-news-malayalam-kkfvAKceaeasi.html|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mohanlal appeared in the 2005 [[black comedy]] ''[[Udayananu Tharam]]'' as an aspiring film director. It was well received by critics and performed well even in places where Malayalam films do not run in regular shows, such as [[Vadodara]], [[Rajkot]], [[Pune]] and [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name="udayan"/> In the same year, he appeared in director [[Blessy]]'s second film ''[[Thanmathra]]'', a film that tells the story of an individual suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]]. The film received positive reviews and Mohanlal's performance was highly praised by critics.<ref name="thanmatra">{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/feb/15sd1.htm|title=Exclusive! Mohanlal on Thanmatra|work=[[Rediff.com]]|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204195922/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/feb/15sd1.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal won his fifth [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor]] and seventh [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam)|Filmfare Award for Best Actor]] for his performance. In the movie, his character does not speak in the second half.<ref name="thanmatra"/><ref name="hindu2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/blessy/20060308.htm|title=Blessy: Thrilled about winning|work=[[Rediff.com]]|first=Paresh C.|last=Palicha|date=8 March 2006|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204195711/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/blessy/20060308.htm|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, he worked with director [[Sathyan Anthikkad]] in ''[[Rasathanthram]]'', a family drama. Mohanlal also acted in ''[[Keerthi Chakra (film)|Kirtichakra]]'', by director [[Major Ravi]], in which he plays an [[Indian Army]] officer, [[Major Mahadevan]]. The film was shot in [[Kashmir]], and was a notable commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/superstars-continue-their-reign/article3231843.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Superstars continue their reign|date=29 December 2006|access-date=30 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204195419/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/superstars-continue-their-reign/article3231843.ece|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] Tamil version of the film was released in [[Tamil Nadu]] as ''[[Aran (film)|Aran]]'', but Mohanlal disassociated himself with the film since his voice was not used, stating that "I prefer to speak for my role in the film."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/mohanlal-dissociates-himself-from-aran/article3087136.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Mohanlal dissociates himself from 'Aran'|last=Kumar|first=S. R. Ashok|date=8 August 2006|access-date=8 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204195238/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/mohanlal-dissociates-himself-from-aran/article3087136.ece|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal also acted in the sequels ''[[Kurukshetra (2008 film)|Kurukshetra]]'' (2008) and ''[[Kandahar (2010 film)|Kandahar]]'' (2010) in the Major Mahadevan series. In 2009, the Indian government conferred him with the honorary title of [[lieutenant colonel]] in the [[Territorial Army (India)|Indian Territorial Army]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2013/sep/04/mohanlals-fb-page-crosses-one-million-fans-513324.html|title=Mohanlal's FB page crosses one million fans|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=4 September 2013|access-date=20 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204195045/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2013/sep/04/Mohanlals-FB-page-crosses-one-million-fans-513324.html|archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, Mohanlal won the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor]] for his performance in ''[[Paradesi (2007 film)|Paradesi]]'', directed by [[P. T. Kunju Muhammed]]. [[Sify.com]] stated that "Mohanlal is mesmerising and reinvents the idiom of acting once more with feeling." His July release ''[[Hallo (2007 film)|Hallo]]'' became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120721033050/http://www.bharatwaves.com/news/Mohanlal%E2%80%99s-Hello:-biggest-Mollywood-hit-of-2007-7964.html "Malayalam Cinema News : Mohanlal's 'Hello': biggest Mollywood hit of 2007".] Bharatwaves.com. Retrieved 15 January 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.sify.com/movies/pardesi-review-malayalam-14542769.html Movie Review:Pardesi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222221213/http://www.sify.com/movies/pardesi-review-malayalam-14542769.html |date=22 December 2013 }}. Sify.com. Retrieved on 6 May 2012.</ref> In August that year, he appeared in his second [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Aag (2007 film)|Aag]]'', (also called ''Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag''), a remake of the Bollywood classic ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975). Mohanlal reprised the role played by [[Sanjeev Kumar]] from the original.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |title=Boxofficeindia.com |publisher=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=12 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109040918/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214 |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008, Mohanlal did the lead role in the multi-starrer blockbuster ''[[Twenty:20 (film)|Twenty:20]]'' and in 2009, he co-starred with [[Kamal Haasan]] in the Tamil film ''[[Unnaipol Oruvan (2009 film)|Unnaipol Oruvan]]''. His last film of the year, ''[[Evidam Swargamanu]]'', was directed by [[Rosshan Andrrews]].