Username123 at 07:49, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T07:49:20Z

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This list outlines the names of notable '''male lead''' film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film industry]], 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.

==1930s==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

|1938
|[[K. K. Aroor]]
|''[[Balan (film)|Balan]]''
|''[[Gnanambika]]'' (1940), ''[[Kerala Kesari]]'' (1950), ''[[Genova (1953 film)|Genova]]'' (1953)
|-
|}

==1940s==

[[File:Sebastian Kunju Kunju Bhagavathar.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Sebastian Kunju Kunju Bhagavathar]]]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

|1940
|[[Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar]]
|''[[Gnanambika]]''
|''[[Navalokam]]'' (1951), ''[[Sheriyo Thetto]]'' (1953), ''[[Vidhi Thanna Vilakku]]'' (1962)
|-
|}

==1950s==
[[File:Prem Nazir.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Prem Nazir]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-
| rowspan="2"|1952
| [[Prem Nazir]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vn|first=Aswin|date=2017-04-06|title=Everlasting aura|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/prem-nazir-is-still-the-superstar-for-many/article17845523.ece|access-date=2021-07-14|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
| ''[[Marumakal]]''
| ''[[Murappennu]]'' (1965), ''[[Udhyogastha]]'' (1967), ''[[Iruttinte Athmavu]]'' (1967), ''[[Kallichellamma]]'' (1969), ''[[Virunnukari]]'' (1969)
|-

|[[Sathyan (Malayalam actor)|Sathyan]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Venkiteswaran|first=C. S.|date=2012-11-08|title=The indomitable Sathyan|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-indomitable-sathyan/article4077870.ece|access-date=2021-11-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|''[[Aathmasakhi|Athmasakhi]]''
|[[Anubhavangal Paalichakal|''Anubhavangal Palichakal'']] (1971), ''[[Karinizhal]]'' (1971), ''[[Kadalpalam]]'' (1969), [[Yakshi (film)|''Yakshi'']] (1968)
|-

|1953
|[[Adoor Bhasi]]
|''[[Thiramala]]''
|''[[Thommante Makkal]]'' (1965), ''[[Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966 film)|Kayamkulam Kochunni]]'' (1966), ''[[C.I.D. Nazir]]'' (1971)
|-

|1958
|[[P. J. Antony]]
|''[[Randidangazhi (film)|Randidangazhi]]''
|''[[Bhargavi Nilayam]]'' (1964) ''[[Kurukshethram (1970 film)|Kurukshethram]]'' (1970), ''[[Manninte Maril]]'' (1979)
|-
|}

==1960s==
[[File:RAGHAVAN.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Raghavan (actor)|Raghavan]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

|1964
|[[Madhu (actor)|Madhu]]
|''[[Bhargavi Nilayam]]''
|''[[Chemmeen]]'' (1965), ''[[Bobanum Moliyum]]'' (1971), ''[[Geethaanjali]]'' (2013)
|-

|1968
|[[Raghavan (actor)|Raghavan]]
| ''[[Kayalkkarayil]]''
|''[[Swami Ayyappan (1975 film)|Swami Ayyappan]]'' (1975), ''[[Hridhayathinte Nirangal]]'' (1979), ''[[Evidence (1988 film)|Evidence]]'' (1998)
|-
|}

==1970s==

[[File:SOP Mammootty2016.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mammootty]]]]
[[File:Mohanlal Viswanathan BNC.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mohanlal]]]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

| 1971
| [[Mammootty]]
| ''[[Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971 film)|Anubhavangal Paalichakal]]''
| ''[[New Delhi (1987 film)|New Delhi]]'' (1987), ''[[Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha]]'' (1989), [[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu]] (1988), ''[[Kottayam Kunjachan]]'' (1990), ''[[Sethurama Iyer CBI]]'' (2004), ''[[Rajamanikyam]]'' (2005), [[Big B (film)|Big B]](2007) ''[[Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (film)|Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]]'' (2009), ''[[Bheeshma Parvam]]'' (2022).
|-

|1972
|[[Thilakan]]
|''Periyar''
|''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]'' (1989), ''[[Spadikam]]'' (1995), ''[[Narasimham (film)|Narasimham]]'' (2000), ''[[Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (film)|Pazhassi Raja]]'' (2009), ''[[Ustad Hotel]]'' (2012)
|-

| rowspan="2"|1973
|[[MG Soman]]
| ''[[Gayathri (1973 film)|Gayathri]]'',
|''[[Manu Uncle]]'' (1988), ''[[Lelam]]'' (1997)
|-

|[[Sukumaran]]
|''[[Nirmalyam]]''
|''[[Rajan Paranja Kadha]]'' (1978), ''[[Angadi (film)|Angadi]]'' (1980), ''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu]]'' (1988)
|-

| rowspan="2"|1976
| [[Jayan]]
| ''[[Panchami (film)|Panchami]]''
| ''[[Sarapancharam]]'' (1979), ''[[Angadi (film)|Angadi]]'' (1980), ''[[Paalattu Kunjikannan|Paalattu Kunjikkannan]]'' (1980), ''[[Manushya Mrugam (1980 film)|Manushya Mrugam]]'' (1980)
|-

|[[Sreenivasan]]
|''[[Manimuzhakkam]]''
|''[[Aram + Aram = Kinnaram]]'' (1985), ''[[Kaalapani]]'' (1996), ''[[Traffic (2011 film)|Traffic]]'' (2011), ''[[Aravindante Athidhikal]]'' (2018)
|-

|1978
| [[Mohanlal]]
| ''[[Thiranottam]]''
| ''[[Chithram]]'' (1998),''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]'' (1989), ''[[No.20 Madras Mail]]'' (1990), ''[[Kilukkam]]'' (1991), ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1994), ''[[Spadikam]]'' (1995), ''[[Kaalapani]]'' (1996), ''[[Narasimham (film)|Narasimham]]'' (2000), ''[[Raavanaprabhu]]'' (2001), [[Thanmathra]](2005), [[Chotta Mumbai]](2007),[[Drishyam]](2013),''[[Pulimurugan]]'' (2016), ''[[Lucifer (2019 Indian film)|Lucifer]]'' (2019).
|}

==1980s==
[[File:Suresh Gopi.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Suresh Gopi]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

|1980
| [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]]
| ''[[Manjil Virinja Pookkal]]''
| ''[[Kadathu]]'' (1981), [[Oothikachiya Ponnu]] (1981), ''[[Ente Mohangal Poovaninju]]'' (1982), ''[[Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram]]'' (1984).
|-

|1982
|[[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]]
|''Balloon''
|''[[Ramji Rao Speaking]]'' (1989).,<ref>ജ്യോതിഷ്, വി.ആര്‍. (21 October 2016). [https://www.vanitha.in/just-in/latest-news/ramji-rau-speaking-film-back-scenes.html "ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ"]. [[Vanitha]]. Retrieved 21 October 2016.</ref> ''[[Vandanam]]'' (1989), ''[[Aakasha Ganga]]'' (1999), ''[[2 Harihar Nagar]]'' (2009), ''[[Philip's (film)|Philip's]]'' (2023)
|-

|1986
|[[Suresh Gopi]]
|''[[Niramulla Raavukal]]''
|''[[Thalastaanam]]'' (1992), ''[[Mafia (1993 film)|Mafia]]'' (1993), ''[[Thenkasipattanam]] '' (2000), ''[[Bharathchandran I.P.S.]]'' (2005).
|-

|1988
|[[Jayaram]]
|''[[Aparan]]''
|''[[Innale (film)|One Man Show]]'' (1990) ''[[One Man Show (film)|One Man Show]]'' (2001), ''[[Winter (2009 film)|Winter]]'' (2009), ''[[China Town (2011 film)|China Town]]'' (2011), ''[[Abraham Ozler]]'' (2024)
|-

|1989
|[[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Saikumar]]
|''[[Ramji Rao Speaking]]''
|''[[In Harihar Nagar]]'' (1990), ''[[Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum]]'' (1990), ''[[Chotta Mumbai]]'' (2007)
|-
|}

==1990s==
[[File:Dileep 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Dileep]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-

| rowspan="2" |1994
| [[Dileep]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/editorial/being-human-salmanification-of-janapriya-nayakan-dilieep |title=The 'Being Human' Salmanification of 'Janapriya Nayakan' Dileep |work=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |access-date=24 August 2018 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| ''[[Manathe Kottaram]]''
| ''[[Punjabi House]]'' (1998), ''[[Ee Parakkum Thalika]]'' (2001), ''[[Meesa Madhavan]]'' (2002), ''[[C.I.D. Moosa]]'' (2003), ''[[Chanthupottu]]'' (2005), ''[[My Boss]]'' (2012), ''[[Two Countries]]'' (2015)
|-

|[[Lal (actor)|Lal]]
|''[[Manathe Kottaram]]''
|''[[Thenkasipattanam]]'' (2000), ''[[Thommanum Makkalum]]'' (2005), ''[[Salt N' Pepper]]'' (2011), ''[[2018 (film)|2018]]'' (2023)
|-
| rowspan="3" |1995
|[[Kalabhavan Mani]]
|''[[Aksharam]]''
|''[[Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum]]'' (1999), ''[[James Bond (1999 film)|James Bond]]'' (1999), ''[[Sethurama Iyer CBI]]'' (2004), ''[[Chotta Mumbai]]'' (2007)
|-

| [[Joju George]]
|''[[Mazhavilkoodaram]]''
| ''[[Action Hero Biju]]'' (2016), ''[[Inspector Dawood Ibrahim|IDI]]'' (2016), ''[[Joseph (2018 film)|Joseph]]'' (2018), ''[[Iratta]]'' (2023), ''[[Antony (2023 film)|Antony]]'' (2023)
|-

|[[Vinayakan]]
|''[[Maanthrikam]]''
|''[[Chathikkatha Chanthu]]'' (2004), ''[[Chotta Mumbai]]'' (2007), ''[[Kammatipaadam]]'' (2016), ''[[Jailer (2023 Tamil film)|Jailer]]'' (2023)
|-
|1997
|[[Kunchacko Boban]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/interview/2017/08/09/kunchacko-boban-on-changing-roles-varnyathil-ashanka.html |title=Four decades of Kunchacko Boban |access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>
|''[[Aniyathipraavu]]''
|''[[Nakshatratharattu]]'' (1998), ''[[Niram]]'' (1999), ''[[Anjaam Pathiraa]]'' (2020)
|-
|}

==2000s==
[[File:Jayasurya in 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|Jayasurya]]
[[File:Prithviraj_at_Aiyyaa_event.jpg|thumb|upright|Prithviraj]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Name
!Debut film
!class=unsortable|Other notable films
|-

|2001
|[[Suraj Venjaramoodu]]
|''Ladies & Gentleman''
|''[[Chattambinadu]]'' (2009), ''[[Teja Bhai & Family]]'' (2011), ''[[Android Kunjappan Version 5.25]]'' (2019), ''[[Jana Gana Mana (2022 film)|Jana Gana Mana]]'' (2022)
|-

|rowspan="3"|2002
|Jishnu Raghavan
| ''[[Nammal]]''
| ''[[Nerariyan CBI]]'' (2005), ''[[Chakkaramuthu]]'' (2006), ''[[Ordinary (film)|Ordinary]]'' (2012), ''[[Ustad Hotel]]'' (2012), ''[[Annum Innum Ennum]]'' (2013)
|-

|[[Prithviraj Sukumaran]]
|''[[Nandanam (film)|Nandanam]]''
| ''[[Indian Rupee (film)|Indian Rupee]]'' (2011), [[Celluloid (film)|Celluloid]] (2013), [[Memories (2013 film)|Memories]], ''[[Ayyappanum Koshiyum]]'' (2020), ''[[Jana Gana Mana (2022 film)|Jana Gana Mana]]'' (2022), ''[[The Goat Life]]'' (2024)
|-

|[[Indrajith Sukumaran]]
| rowspan="2" |''[[Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan]]''
|''[[Chanthupottu]]'' (2005), ''[[Amen (2013 film)|Amen]]'' (2013), ''[[Lucifer (2019 Indian film)|Lucifer]]'' (2019)
|-

|rowspan="2"|2002
|[[Jayasurya]]
|''[[Pulival Kalyanam]]'' (2003), ''[[Chathikkatha Chanthu]]'' (2004), ''[[Chocolate (2007 film)|Chocolate]]'' (2007), ''[[Classmates (2006 film)|Classmates]]'' (2006), ''[[Aadu (film)|Aadu]]'' (2015)
|-

|[[Fahadh Faasil]]
|''[[Kaiyethum Doorath]]''
|''[[Amen (2013 film)|Amen]]'' (2013), ''[[Bangalore Days]]'' (2014), ''[[Njan Prakashan]]''(2018), ''[[Joji (film)|Joji]]'' (2021), ''[[Aavesham (2024 film)|Aavesham]]'' (2024)
|-

|2005
|[[Saiju Kurup]]
|[[Mayookham]]
|''[[Aadu (film)|Aadu]]'' (2015), ''[[Antakshari (2022 film)|Antakshari]]'' (2022), ''[[Pappachan Olivilanu]]'' (2023)
|-

|2008
|[[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]
|''[[Cycle (2008 film)|Cycle]]''
|''[[Traffic (2011 film)|Traffic]]'' (2011), ''[[Kunjiramayanam]]'' (2015), ''[[Aravindante Athidhikal]]'' (2018), ''[[Mukundan Unni Associates]]'' (2022), ''[[2018 (film)|2018]]'' (2023)
|-

|2009
|[[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]
|''[[Ritu (2009 film)|Ritu]]''
|''[[Salt N' Pepper]]'' (2011), ''[[Honey Bee (2013 film)|Honey Bee]]'' (2013), ''[[Kooman (film)|Kooman]]'' (2022)
|-
|}

==2010s==
{{See also| New generation (Malayalam film movement)}}
[[File:Dulquer Salmaan at Zoya Factor Trailer Launch function (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dulquer Salmaan]]]]
[[File:Fahadh Faasil 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Fahadh Faasil]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year
! Name
! Debut film
!class=unsortable| Other notable films
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
| [[Nivin Pauly]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srinivasan|first1=Latha|title=Nivin Pauly's unstoppable rise: How he went from guy-next-door to bonafide superstar|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/nivin-paulys-unstoppable-rise-how-he-went-from-guy-next-door-to-bonafide-superstar-3448336.html|access-date=13 May 2018|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=16 May 2017|archive-date=14 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514002621/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/nivin-paulys-unstoppable-rise-how-he-went-from-guy-next-door-to-bonafide-superstar-3448336.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|''[[Malarvaadi Arts Club]]''
|''[[Thattathin Marayathu]]'' (2012), ''[[Oru Vadakkan Selfie]]'', ''[[Premam]]'' (2015), ''[[Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018 film)|Kayamkulam Kochunni]]'' (2018)
|-

|[[Chemban Vinod Jose]]
|''[[Nayakan (2010 film)|Nayakan]]''
|''[[Aadu (film)|Aadu]]'' (2015), ''[[Ee.Ma.Yau.]]'' (2018), ''[[Porinju Mariam Jose]]'' (2019)
|-
|2011
|[[Sreenath Bhasi]]
|''[[Pranayam (2011 film)|Pranayam]]''
|''[[Da Thadiya]]'' (2012), ''[[Anjaam Pathiraa]]'' (2020), ''[[Manjummel Boys]]'' (2024)
|-

| rowspan="3"|2012
| [[Dulquer Salmaan]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Second Show]]''
| ''[[Ustad Hotel]]'' (2012), ''[[ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013 film)|ABCD]]'' (2013), ''[[Charlie (2015 Malayalam film)|Charlie]]'' (2015), ''[[Kurup (film)|Kurup]]'' (2021)
|-

|[[Sunny Wayne]]
|''[[Aadu (film)|Aadu]]'' (2015), ''[[Anugraheethan Antony]]'' (2021), ''[[Kasargold]]'' (2023)
|-

|[[Arjun Ashokan]]
|''[[Orkut Oru Ormakoot]]''
|''[[B.Tech (film)|B.Tech]] (2018), ''[[Jan. E. Man]] (2021), ''[[Romancham]]'' (2023)
|-

| rowspan="5"|2013
|[[Soubin Shahir]]
|''[[Annayum Rasoolum]]''
|''[[Sudani from Nigeria]]'' (2018), ''[[Kumbalangi Nights]]'' (2019), ''[[Manjummel Boys]]'' (2024)
|-

|[[Neeraj Madhav]]
|''[[Buddy (2013 film)|Buddy]]''
|''[[Adi Kapyare Kootamani]]'' (2013), ''[[Lavakusha]]'' (2017), ''[[Gauthamante Radham]]'' (2020), ''[[RDX: Robert Dony Xavier|RDX]]'' (2023)
|-

|[[Sharaf U Dheen|Sharafudheen]]
|''[[Neram]]''
|''[[Pretham]]'' (2016), ''[[Role Models (2017 film)|Role Models]]'' (2017), ''[[Anjaam Pathiraa]]'' (2020)
|-

|[[Dhyan Sreenivasan]]
|''[[Thira (film)|Thira]]''
|''[[Kunjiramayanam]]'' (2015), ''[[Adi Kapyare Kootamani]]'' (2015), ''[[Udal (film)|Udal]]'' (2022)
|-

|[[Basil Joseph]]
|''[[Up & Down: Mukalil Oralundu]]''
|''[[Jan. E. Man]]'' (2021), ''[[Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey]]'' (2022), ''[[Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil]]'' (2024)
|-

|rowspan="2"|2016
|[[Vishnu Unnikrishnan]]
|''[[Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan]]''
|''[[Oru Yamandan Premakadha]]'' (2019), ''[[Krishnankutty Pani Thudangi]]'' (2021), ''[[Vedikettu]]'' (2023)
|-

|[[Shane Nigam]]
|''[[Kismath (2016 film)|Kismath]]''
|''[[Parava (film)|Parava]]'' (2017), ''[[Kumbalangi Nights]]'' (2019), ''[[Bhoothakaalam]]'' (2022), ''[[RDX: Robert Dony Xavier|RDX]]'' (2023)
|-

|rowspan="2"|2017
|[[Tovino Thomas]]
|''[[Oru Mexican Aparatha]]''
|''[[Minnal Murali]]'' (2021), ''[[Thallumaala]]'' (2022), ''[[2018 (film)|2018]]'' (2023)
|-
|[[Antony Varghese]]
|''[[Angamaly Diaries]]''
| ''[[Jallikattu]]'' (2019), ''[[Ajagajantharam]]'' (2021), ''[[RDX: Robert Dony Xavier|RDX]]'' (2023)
|-

|2018
|[[Pranav Mohanlal]]
|''[[Aadhi]]''
|''[[Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu]]'' (2019), ''[[Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea|Marakkar]]'' (2021), ''[[Hridayam]]'' (2022), ''[[Varshangalkku Shesham]]'' (2024)
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2019
| [[Mathew Thomas]]
| '' [[Kumbalangi Nights]]''
| ''[[Thanneer Mathan Dinangal]]'' (2019), ''[[Jo and Jo]]'' (2022), ''[[Nellikkampoyil Night Riders]]'' (2025)
|-
| [[Naslen]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srinivasan|first1=Latha|title=Nivin Pauly's unstoppable rise: How he went from guy-next-door to bonafide superstar|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/nivin-paulys-unstoppable-rise-how-he-went-from-guy-next-door-to-bonafide-superstar-3448336.html|access-date=13 May 2018|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=16 May 2017|archive-date=14 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514002621/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/nivin-paulys-unstoppable-rise-how-he-went-from-guy-next-door-to-bonafide-superstar-3448336.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|''[[Thanneer Mathan Dinangal]]''
|''[[Premalu]]'' (2024), ''[[Alappuzha Gymkhana]]'' (2025), ''[[Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra]]'' (2025)
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[List of highest-grossing Malayalam films]]
*[[Lists of Indian actors]]
*[[List of Indian male film actors]]
*[[:Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema|List of Malayalam actresses]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lists of Indian actors|Malayalam]]

List of Malayalam film actors - Revision history

Username123 at 07:49, 24 March 2026