Mohanlal and Mammootty have been the kings of Malayalam cinema and the favorites of Malayalis for over forty years. These two legends of Mollywood kicked off their careers around the same time and have had quite similar paths in the industry. But is there a competitive edge between them? In a recent chat with Galatta Plus Tamil, veteran actress Suhasini Maniratnam brought this up with Mohanlal. The Malayalam superstar also shared his thoughts on the comparisons between Pranav Mohanlal and Dulquer Salmaan, highlighting their different views on films.

Mohanlal shared his views on Pranav and Dulquer Salmaan

During a relaxed conversation in Tamil, Suhasini brought up the two star kids, Pranav Mohanlal and Dulquer Salmaan, with Mohanlal. He shared, “Honestly, I have no clue how they got into the industry. Dulquer was busy studying for his MBA in the US, and my son was in Australia. They never planned on joining films.” Reflecting on his own journey, Mohanlal admitted he’s just as puzzled about how he ended up in the film world. “Pranav was hesitant about acting. I encouraged him to give it a shot, and my wife agreed, saying if he felt comfortable, he should go for it,” he reminisced.

Pranav then laid out his own guidelines for entering the film industry, deciding he would only take on a few projects that truly interested him and completely avoiding interviews or public events.

Mohanlal noted that Dulquer, in contrast, is more eager to take on good roles. “He’s doing great. Both of them feel like sons to me. And for Mammootty, they’re like his kids too."

Mohanlal talks about going head-to-head with Mammootty

Suhasini was chatting with Mohanlal and asked him if there had ever been any rivalry between the two major stars in Malayalam cinema. Since she has worked with both, she pressed Mohanlal for a straightforward answer.

Mohanlal responded, "What kind of competition are you talking about?" Suhasini then inquired about what happens when their movies are released simultaneously, to which Mohanlal mentioned the numerous fan clubs in Kerala. "Even then, it’s not really competition. It’s just how fans react. Between us, what kind of competition is there?" he said.

He went on to explain that the types of roles Mammootty takes on are quite different from his own. "We do collaborate on films, but it’s tough to find a project that suits both of us. There’s really no chance for a contest," he added.

Suhasini digs a bit deeper, asking the Malayalam superstar if they both share that competitive vibe or if one of them is more driven than the other.

Mohanlal quickly waves off the question, saying, "I don't have it, and neither does he." He adds that they've been friends for a whopping 40-45 years.

Mohanlal and Mammootty's bond

Suhasini, a two-time Kerala state award winner, asked Mohanlal about his friendship with Mammootty.

Mohanlal responded that after doing around 50 films together, a friendship is bound to form. He mentioned that their families have also become close. When Mohanlal noted that they never had a chance to compete against each other, Suhasini joked that she’d be the first in line to grab a ticket and watch if that ever happens.

In other news, Mammootty and Mohanlal are set to star in an upcoming film directed by Mahesh Narayanan.

Read Also: Travis Kelce shares his thoughts on Taylor Swift's go-to Christmas movie: ‘Absolutely scary’.

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!