List of Malayalam film actors

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Last edited March 24, 2026


This list outlines the names of popular lead film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the Malayalam film industry ("Mollywood"), based in Kerala, India. The list is ordered by the year of their debut as a leading actor or the year of their landmark film. Actors who have starred in at least five films as lead are included in the list.

1950s

Prem Nazir
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1952 Prem Nazir[1] Marumakal Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969)
1952 Sathyan[2] Athmasakhi Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968)

1960s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1961 Jose Prakash[3] Bhakta Kuchela C.I.D. Nazir (1971)
1963 Madhu Bhargavi Nilayam Chemmeen (1965)

1970s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1976 Jayan Panchami Sarapancharam (1979), Angadi (1980), Chaakara (1980), Love in Singapore (1980), Paalattu Kunjikkannan (1980), Naayattu (1980), Manushya Mrugam (1980)
1978 Nedumudi Venu Thampu Thakara (1979), Venal (1981), Dr. Pasupathy (1990)

1980s

Mohanlal
Mammootty
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1980 Shankar Manjil Virinja Pookkal Kadathu (1981), Oothikachiya Ponnu (1981), Ente Mohangal Poovaninju (1982), Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram (1984).
1980 Mohanlal Thiranottam Rajavinte Makan (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Kireedam (1989),[4][5] No.20 Madras Mail (1990), Kilukkam (1991), Vietnam Colony (1992), Devaasuram, (1993), Manichitrathazhu (1994), Spadikam (1995), Kaalapani (1996), Narasimham (2000), Raavanaprabhu (2001), Pulimurugan (2016), Lucifer (2019).
1981 Mammootty Ahimsa New Delhi (1987), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), The King (1995), Hitler (1996), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Rajamanikyam (2005), Mayavi (2007), Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009), Pokkiri Raja (2010), Bheeshma Parvam (2022).
1982 Mukesh Ithu Njangalude Katha Ramji Rao Speaking (1989).[6], Vandanam (1989)
1986 Suresh Gopi Niramulla Raavukal Thalastaanam (1992), Ekalavyan (1993), Mafia (1993), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005).
1989 Jayaram Innale Sandesam (1991), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002)

1990s

Dileep
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
1994 Dileep[7] Manathe Kottaram Punjabi House (1998), Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001), Kunjikoonan (2002), Meesa Madhavan (2002), C.I.D. Moosa (2003), Chanthupottu (2005), Twenty:20 (2008), Christian Brothers (2011), My Boss (2012), Ring Master (2014), Two Countries (2015), Ramaleela (2017).
1995 Biju Menon Mikhayelinte Santhathikal Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995), Marykkundoru Kunjaadu (2010), Seniors (2011), Ordinary (2012), Run Baby Run (2012), Romans (2013), Vellimoonga (2014),Anarkali (2015), Leela (2016), Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu (2017), Sherlock Toms (2017), Adhyarathri (2019), Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020).
1997 Kunchacko Boban[8] Aniyathipraavu Nakshatratharattu (1998), Niram (1999), Prem Poojari (1999), Virus (2019)

2000s

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Jishnu Raghavan
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
2002 Jishnu Raghavan Nammal Nerariyan CBI (2005), Chakkaramuthu (2006), Nidra (2012), Ordinary (2012), Ustad Hotel (2012), Annum Innum Ennum (2013), Traffic (2016)
2002 Prithviraj Sukumaran Nandanam Vaasthavam (2006), Indian Rupee (2011), Celluloid, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Aiyyaa (2012), Kavya Thalaivan (2014), Driving Licence (2019), Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), Jana Gana Mana (2022), Kaduva (2023)
2002 Jayasurya Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan Swapnakkoodu (2003), Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chocolate (2007), Gulumaal (2009), Classmates (2006), Aadu (2015) and Aadu 2 (2017)
2002 Fahadh Faasil Kaiyethum Doorath Amen (2013), North 24 Kaatham (2014), Bangalore Days (2014), Oru Indian Pranayakadha (2015), Njan Prakashan(2018), Joji (2021)

2010s

Dulquer Salmaan
Year Name Debut film Other notable films
2012 Dulquer Salmaan Second Show Ustad Hotel (2012), ABCD (2013), Bangalore Days (2014), O Kadhal Kanmani (2015), Charlie (2015), Kali (2016), Jomonte Suvisheshangal (2017), Mahanati (2018), Kurup (2021) and Sita Ramam (2022).
2012 Nivin Pauly[9] Malarvaadi Arts Club Thattathin Marayathu (2012),Neram (2013), 1983 (2014), Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014), Bangalore Days (2014), Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Premam (2015), Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (2017), Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018), Moothon (2019),
2017 Tovino Thomas Oru Mexican Aparatha Minnal Murali (2021), Thallumaala (2022)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vn, Aswin (2017-04-06). "Everlasting aura". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  2. ↑ Venkiteswaran, C. S. (2012-11-08). "The indomitable Sathyan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  3. ↑ Vn, Aswin (2017-04-06). "Everlasting aura". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  4. ↑ "Nana 1989 year end reader poll — Postimages". postimg.cc. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  5. ↑ NKS (27 July 1990). "Kireedam". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  6. ↑ ജ്യോതിഷ്, വി.ആര്‍. (21 October 2016). "ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ". Vanitha. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "The 'Being Human' Salmanification of 'Janapriya Nayakan' Dileep". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 24 August 2018.[dead link]
  8. ↑ "Four decades of Kunchacko Boban". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  9. ↑ Srinivasan, Latha (16 May 2017). "Nivin Pauly's unstoppable rise: How he went from guy-next-door to bonafide superstar". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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