Mohanlal to get the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his "iconic contribution" to Indian Cinema

Veteran actor, director and producer Mohanlal will be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, the Government of India announced on Saturday.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made the announcement, saying that the decision was made following the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.

The 65-year-old actor is being recognised and honoured for his contribution to Indian cinema.


The statement read, "The Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. 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."


The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the actor, saying he epitomises excellence and versatilityy. "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 said.


Last year, actor Mithun Chakraborty was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2022.

The life and contributions of Mohanlal

Mohanlal, entered the Malayalam film industry with an acting debut the film Thiranottam in 1978, However, the release was delayed due to censorship issues.The 1980 romantic film Manjil Virinja Pookkal officially marked his screen debut.

He has acted in numerous acclaimed and notable films, including Iruvar, Kireedam, Bharatham, Vanaprastham, and Kanmadam.

Mohanlal has also won five National Film Awards, including two Best Actor, a Special Jury Mention and a Special Jury Award for acting, and an award for Best Feature Film.

He was conferred with the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour, in 2019, for his contributions to the arts.

He was recently seen in Hridayapoorvam, which was released during Onam.