Mammootty
Mammootty, born Muhammad Kutty Ismail Paniparambil on 7 September 1951 in Chandiroor, Kerala, is one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema, predominantly in Malayalam films. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Indian film history, with a prolific career spanning over five decades and more than 425 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English. Before entering films, Mammootty earned a law degree (LL.B.) from Government Law College, Ernakulam, and briefly practiced law.
He made his onscreen debut in 1971 with an uncredited role in Anubhavangal Paalichakal while still a law student. His first credited role came in the film Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980), and his career breakthrough was in 1983 with Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu. Mammootty’s portrayal in the 1981 film Ahimsa earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor, setting the stage for a series of acclaimed performances. His versatility ranges from serious art-house films to mainstream blockbusters, and he won three National Film Awards for Best Actor, ten Kerala State Film Awards, and fifteen Filmfare Awards South.
In addition to acting, Mammootty has produced films like Adiyozhukkukal (1984), which showcased his skills in choosing strong narratives. He debuted in Tamil cinema with Mounam Sammadham (1989), Telugu with Swathi Kiranam (1992), and Hindi with Dhartiputra (1992). His role as CBI Officer Sethurama Iyer in the CBI series is highly acclaimed.
For his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, Mammootty was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998, the Kerala Prabha Award in 2022, and honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala. Known for his method acting and powerful dialogue delivery, Mammootty remains a dominant figure in Malayalam cinema and continues to influence generations of actors, including his son Dulquer Salmaan. He is married to Sulfath, and they have two children, Dulquer being the elder son.