The legendary actor Mohanlal was recently conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He has done the maximum number of films with the veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan. The filmmaker looked back at their association in an interview with us.
Priyadarshan on his dear friend Mohanlal winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, “I feel as if I have got the award”
Priyan, nobody is more qualified than you to talk about Mohanlal. I mean, you have been with him. How many films have you done?
I have done 97 films so far. 45 of them are with Mohanlal.
Oh my God! This is a world record. 45 films. No director-actor combination has done so many films together anywhere in the world. So, congratulations on that. So, how do you feel about him getting the Dadasaheb Phalke?
Shall I tell you something? I feel as if I’ve got the Dadasaheb Phalke. We grew up together, started our careers together. When we were both barely in our 20s, we took the same train to Chennai. We both took the same train to Chennai to become an actor and a director. I was so lucky. I always say that.
You actually literally came on the same train or is that a metaphor?
Literally, we came together to Chennai. We made our first film, a black and white film during our college days together. And we were neighbours as children. We used to play in the same ground together. So we were childhood friends. He was three years junior to me. That’s all.
So, did the two of you recognize the potential in each other from then onwards?
No, no. It was a dream. We saw it together. That’s it. We were not sure where we will reach and all. And it was not only me and him. There was Suresh. That is Kirti Reddy’s father. All these people, we all dreamt together cinema.
You know, there should be a movie made about your friendship with Mohanlal
Yeah, but who will make it? Only the two of us know the true story. So then, I only wish that when things did not happen fine, I was, one day me and this actor, director called Satya Nandikar. He one day said that if this guy (Mohanlal) becomes a superstar, our life will be saved. Because nobody else will give us dates to direct otherwise. So, I always say, if Mohanlal was not there, Priyadarshan would not have been there.
So sweet. That is your humility and friendship?
No, no. It is the reality. Because those days, even today, you need big stars’ dates. So, because he became a star and he believed in me, he gave me opportunities to make films. And he never asks till today, even till the last film we did together, what is the subject? What is my role? Nothing he asks. Till today, he has never asked me, what are we doing? Okay, you want to do a film? When are you starting?
Look at Mohanlal’s level of faith in you!
But that has become a huge responsibility for me. So, that pressure of mine actually made almost 90% of successful films with him.
Do you socialize with him? Are you, beyond all these lovely films that you’ve done with him, do the two of you come together to have a drink?
Definitely, definitely, definitely. Because, you know, we grew up together. We had a childhood relationship. And our families are so close to each other. My children and his children grew up together. So, we used to go vacations together with our families. So, if you ask me, when he won the Dadasaheb Phalke award, I felt that I got it. Do you know something? I want to tell you a very interesting thing.
Do tell?
I’m on my 97th film. So, Mohanlal declared that, okay, 100th film is with me. Because your first film as a director was with me. So, your 100th film also will be with me. Because that will be some history. Let’s see if I get there.
You mean to your 100th film? Of course you will
You never know about tomorrow, Subhash. I always say the film I am making will be the last. I’m a very insecure person.
But that’s good, Priyan. All artists need to be insecure
What is the biggest reason for my success in my life? It is my insecurity.
Achha, you are right now remaking a film that you have done with Mohanlal, aren’t you? In a different way, Mohanlal is also acting in that film?
Yeah, he is doing a cameo. Not the role he played in the original (Oppam).
Which among the films that you have done with Mohanlal are your favourites, Priyan?
My favourite film? With Mohanlal? Three films, if you ask me. One is Chithram, which ran 365 days. Regular show which broke the record. It broke the record of Chota Chetan and it is the highest running cinema ever happened in the history of Malayalam cinema. Then if you ask me, Kala Pani. The third was Thenmavin Kombath.
Now the 100th film when you do that, that will be the ultimate masterpiece
I don’t know. Maybe it can be a flop. It can be a hit. Who knows? I have been growing by learning cinema every day. So, I hope that I’ll do something good for him. Suddenly a lot of people ask me, you know, I’m known more as Kalyani Priyadarshan’s father than Priyadarshan. So, it is nothing that I thought it will happen. It all happened. Did you see Lokah?
Yes, of course I did. And I messaged you and I spoke to Kalyani. You are becoming forgetful?
Oh, yeah, sorry.
I think she’s a lovely girl. I really enjoy speaking to her. The success has not gone to her head
No. That was my message to her. Yeah. I said that success should never go to your head. And failure should never go to your heart.
Also Read: Priyadarshan confirms Mohanlal’s cameo alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in Haiwaan
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