Mohanlal: 10 lesser-known things about the Malayalam Superstar
Mohanlal, who is known as "Lalettan" by millions of fans, is called The Complete Actor because he can do so many different things in Indian movies. He has played a lot of different roles in his more than 40-year career, from strong action roles to lighthearted comedies to intense dramas. Fans recognize him as a cultural icon and rockstar, but there are still some interesting things about his life and work that most people don't know.
He played a bad guy in his first movie. Mohanlal started his career in film as the bad guy, but now he is a revered family hero. In his first movie, Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), he played a bad guy. His natural acting made him a star right away.
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Not able to join the Army because of a small issue One little-known truth about Mohanlal's early life is that he once tried to join the Indian Army. But a small concern with his body weight caused him to be turned down during the medical exam. It's noteworthy to note that he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army decades later, which is something that very few performers have done.
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Has a black belt in martial arts Not many people know that Mohanlal knows martial arts and holds a black belt in taekwondo. His action scenes, which he still does with incredible accuracy, often show this enthusiasm.
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Has a unique chain of restaurants Mohanlal is an actor and a business owner. He co-owns The Harbour Market, a prominent chain of seafood restaurants in Dubai that feeds foodies. He loves gourmet dining.
Mohanlal the singer Mohanlal is most known as an actor, but he has also sang a lot of songs for movies. People love songs like "Aattumanal Payayil" (Run Baby Run) because his voice is so deep and relaxing.
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A record-breaking collection of awards Mohanlal has received five National Film Awards, including a few for Best Actor. He is one of the few Indian actors to have won both the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri for his work in movies.
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A True Sports Fan Mohanlal is a big sports aficionado in addition to being an actor. He has put money into Kerala's indigenous sport by aggressively supporting the Kerala Blasters football team in its early years in the Indian Super League (ISL).
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Wouldn't Take Big Movie Roles Mohanlal has turned down many famous parts in Tamil and Hindi movies over the years because of scheduling difficulties. It's interesting that he said no to Shankar's offer to portray the bad guy in Sivaji: The Boss, which Suman subsequently got.
Runs a theater company Not many fans know that Mohanlal helped start the theater company Lohithadas Kalalaya. As a result, he has put on a lot of plays, which keeps his love of live performance alive even when he is quite busy with movies.
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A Man Who Respects Himself People know Mohanlal is down-to-earth even if he is a big star. He doesn't like the rewards of being famous, so he stays out of the spotlight. He often calls himself "just an actor who is lucky enough to get good roles."
![Mohanlal the singer Mohanlal is most known as an actor, but he has also sang a lot of songs for movies. People love songs like "Aattumanal Payayil" (Run Baby Run) because his voice is so deep and relaxing.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/09/20250921084137_mohanlal-ps-five.jpg "Mohanlal the singer Mohanlal is most known as an actor, but he has also sang a lot of songs for movies. People love songs like "Aattumanal Payayil" (Run Baby Run) because his voice is so deep and relaxing.")
![A Man Who Respects Himself People know Mohanlal is down-to-earth even if he is a big star. He doesn't like the rewards of being famous, so he stays out of the spotlight. He often calls himself "just an actor who is lucky enough to get good roles."](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/09/20250921084255_mohanlal-psseven.jpg "A Man Who Respects Himself People know Mohanlal is down-to-earth even if he is a big star. He doesn't like the rewards of being famous, so he stays out of the spotlight. He often calls himself "just an actor who is lucky enough to get good roles."")
