Superstar Mohanlal has been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, India’s highest honour in cinema. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on Tuesday. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) announced the award, praising Mohanlal’s contributions to Indian cinema.
On X, the ministry posted: “Mohanlal’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The legendary actor, director, and producer is being honoured for his iconic contribution to Indian cinema. His unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history.”
Mohanlal has become the second Malayali actor to receive this prestigious honour, following acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who was awarded in 2004. Other prominent recipients include veterans such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, and Shyam Benegal.
Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil,… https://t.co/4MWI1oFJsJ pic.twitter.com/P0DkKg1FWL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mohanlal on winning the award and praised his remarkable performances throughout his acting career. “Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. His cinematic and theatrical brilliance across mediums is truly inspiring,” Modi said in a post on X.
Reacting to the announcement, Mohanlal told Manorama News that he would definitely travel to Delhi to receive the award at the National Awards ceremony scheduled for Tuesday. The veteran actor said he feels truly blessed to be honoured and described the recognition as a source of encouragement for artists and people across the country. He added that he remains committed to the arts and will continue to contribute with the same passion and dedication.
Actor Urvashi, who has worked with Mohanlal in several films, expressed her happiness at the recognition for the Mollywood superstar. “We’re truly overjoyed by this news. I’m feeling so emotional to be part of the same event where I’ll be receiving an award too. This isn’t just his award—this is something all Malayalis can feel proud of. To be there and witness it is incredibly special. I’ll definitely be reaching out to him. Though the recognition may seem long overdue, every recipient so far has been deserving. It’s heartwarming to see him being honoured at this moment in his career,” she told Manorama News.
Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) president Shwetha Menon also shared her happiness over the recognition for the veteran actor. “I have also been part of a few films involving Mohanlal. This is such a proud moment for Malayalam cinema,” she said.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is presented by the Government of India to recognise outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.