List of Malayalam film actors

This list outlines the names of notable male lead film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the 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

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1938K. K. AroorBalanGnanambika (1940), Kerala Kesari (1950), Genova (1953)

1940s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1940Sebastian Kunjukunju BhagavatharGnanambikaNavalokam (1951), Sheriyo Thetto (1953), Vidhi Thanna Vilakku (1962)

1950s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1952 Prem Nazir Marumakal Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969)SathyanAthmasakhiAnubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968)1953Adoor BhasiThiramalaThommante Makkal (1965), Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966), C.I.D. Nazir (1971)1958P. J. AntonyRandidangazhiBhargavi Nilayam (1964) Kurukshethram (1970), Manninte Maril (1979)

1960s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1964MadhuBhargavi NilayamChemmeen (1965), Bobanum Moliyum (1971), Geethaanjali (2013)1968Raghavan KayalkkarayilSwami Ayyappan (1975), Hridhayathinte Nirangal (1979), Evidence (1998)

1970s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films 1971 Mammootty Anubhavangal Paalichakal New Delhi (1987), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Rajamanikyam (2005), Big B(2007) Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009), Bheeshma Parvam (2022).1972ThilakanPeriyarKireedam (1989), Spadikam (1995), Narasimham (2000), Pazhassi Raja (2009), Ustad Hotel (2012)1973MG Soman Gayathri,Manu Uncle (1988), Lelam (1997)SukumaranNirmalyamRajan Paranja Kadha (1978), Angadi (1980), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)1976 Jayan Panchami Sarapancharam (1979), Angadi (1980), Paalattu Kunjikkannan (1980), Manushya Mrugam (1980)SreenivasanManimuzhakkamAram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985), Kaalapani (1996), Traffic (2011), Aravindante Athidhikal (2018)1978 Mohanlal Thiranottam Chithram (1998),Kireedam (1989), No.20 Madras Mail (1990), Kilukkam (1991), Manichitrathazhu (1994), Spadikam (1995), Kaalapani (1996), Narasimham (2000), Raavanaprabhu (2001), Thanmathra(2005), Chotta Mumbai(2007),Drishyam(2013),Pulimurugan (2016), Lucifer (2019).

1980s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1980 Shankar Manjil Virinja Pookkal Kadathu (1981), Oothikachiya Ponnu (1981), Ente Mohangal Poovaninju (1982), Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram (1984).1982MukeshBalloonRamji Rao Speaking (1989).,ജ്യോതിഷ്, വി.ആര്‍. (21 October 2016). "ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ". Vanitha. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Vandanam (1989), Aakasha Ganga (1999), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Philip's (2023)1986Suresh GopiNiramulla RaavukalThalastaanam (1992), Mafia (1993), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005).1988JayaramAparanOne Man Show (1990) One Man Show (2001), Winter (2009), China Town (2011), Abraham Ozler (2024)1989SaikumarRamji Rao SpeakingIn Harihar Nagar (1990), Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1990), Chotta Mumbai (2007)

1990s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films1994 Dileep 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)LalManathe KottaramThenkasipattanam (2000), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Salt N' Pepper (2011), 2018 (2023)1995Kalabhavan ManiAksharamVasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999), James Bond (1999), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007) Joju GeorgeMazhavilkoodaram Action Hero Biju (2016), IDI (2016), Joseph (2018), Iratta (2023), Antony (2023)VinayakanMaanthrikamChathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007), Kammatipaadam (2016), Jailer (2023)1997Kunchacko BobanAniyathipraavuNakshatratharattu (1998), Niram (1999), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)

2000s

+YearNameDebut filmOther notable films2001Suraj VenjaramooduLadies & GentlemanChattambinadu (2009), Teja Bhai & Family (2011), Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019), Jana Gana Mana (2022)2002Jishnu Raghavan Nammal Nerariyan CBI (2005), Chakkaramuthu (2006), Ordinary (2012), Ustad Hotel (2012), Annum Innum Ennum (2013)Prithviraj SukumaranNandanam Indian Rupee (2011), Celluloid (2013), Memories, Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), Jana Gana Mana (2022), The Goat Life (2024)Indrajith SukumaranOomappenninu UriyadappayyanChanthupottu (2005), Amen (2013), Lucifer (2019)2002JayasuryaPulival Kalyanam (2003), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chocolate (2007), Classmates (2006), Aadu (2015)Fahadh FaasilKaiyethum DoorathAmen (2013), Bangalore Days (2014), Njan Prakashan(2018), Joji (2021), Aavesham (2024)2005Saiju KurupMayookhamAadu (2015), Antakshari (2022), Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam (2026)2008Vineeth SreenivasanCycleTraffic (2011), Kunjiramayanam (2015), Aravindante Athidhikal (2018), Mukundan Unni Associates (2022)2009Asif AliRituSalt N' Pepper (2011), Honey Bee (2013), Kooman (2022), Kishkindha Kaandam (2024)

2010s

Year Name Debut film Other notable films2010 Nivin PaulyMalarvaadi Arts ClubThattathin Marayathu (2012), Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Premam (2015), Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018)Chemban Vinod JoseNayakanAadu (2015), Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018), Porinju Mariam Jose (2019)2011 Unni Mukundan Bombay March 12 Mallu Singh (2012), Style (2016), Malikappuram (2022), Marco (2024)Sreenath BhasiPranayamDa Thadiya (2012), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Manjummel Boys (2024)2012 Dulquer Salmaan Second Show Ustad Hotel (2012), ABCD (2013), Charlie (2015), Kurup (2021)Sunny WayneAadu (2015), Anugraheethan Antony (2021), Kasargold (2023)Tovino ThomasPrabhuvinte MakkalMinnal Murali (2021), Thallumaala (2022), ARM (2024)Arjun AshokanOrkut Oru OrmakootB.Tech (2018), Jan. E. Man (2021), Romancham (2023)2013Soubin ShahirAnnayum RasoolumSudani from Nigeria (2018), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Manjummel Boys (2024)Neeraj MadhavBuddyAdi Kapyare Kootamani (2013), Lavakusha (2017), Gauthamante Radham (2020), RDX (2023)SharafudheenNeramPretham (2016), Role Models (2017), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)Dhyan SreenivasanThiraKunjiramayanam (2015), Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), Varshangalkku Shesham (2024)Basil JosephUp & Down: Mukalil OralunduJan. E. Man (2021), Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022), Ponman (2025)2016Vishnu UnnikrishnanKattappanayile Rithwik RoshanOru Yamandan Premakadha (2019), Krishnankutty Pani Thudangi (2021), Sabaash Chandrabose (2022), Vedikettu (2023)Shane NigamKismathParava (2017), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Bhoothakaalam (2022), RDX (2023)2017 Antony VargheseAngamaly Diaries Jallikattu (2019), Ajagajantharam (2021), RDX (2023)2018Pranav MohanlalAadhiHridayam (2022), Varshangalkku Shesham (2024), Diés Iraé (2025) 2019 Sandeep Pradeep Pathinettam Padi Pathinettam Padi (2019), Falimy (2022), Padakalam(2025) 2019 NaslenThanneer Mathan DinangalPremalu (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 List of Malayalam actresses

References