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
1940s
1950s
| Year
|
Name
|
Debut film
|
Other notable films
|
| 1952
|
Prem Nazir[1]
|
Marumakal
|
Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Kallichellamma (1969), Virunnukari (1969)
|
| Sathyan[2]
|
Athmasakhi
|
Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971), Karinizhal (1971), Kadalpalam (1969), Yakshi (1968)
|
| 1953
|
Adoor Bhasi
|
Thiramala
|
Thommante Makkal (1965), Kayamkulam Kochunni (1966), C.I.D. Nazir (1971)
|
| 1958
|
P. J. Antony
|
Randidangazhi
|
Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) Kurukshethram (1970), Manninte Maril (1979)
|
1960s
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).
|
| 1972
|
Thilakan
|
Periyar
|
Kireedam (1989), Spadikam (1995), Narasimham (2000), Pazhassi Raja (2009), Ustad Hotel (2012)
|
| 1973
|
MG Soman
|
Gayathri,
|
Manu Uncle (1988), Lelam (1997)
|
| Sukumaran
|
Nirmalyam
|
Rajan Paranja Kadha (1978), Angadi (1980), Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)
|
| 1976
|
Jayan
|
Panchami
|
Sarapancharam (1979), Angadi (1980), Paalattu Kunjikkannan (1980), Manushya Mrugam (1980)
|
| Sreenivasan
|
Manimuzhakkam
|
Aram + 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 films
|
| 1980
|
Shankar
|
Manjil Virinja Pookkal
|
Kadathu (1981), Oothikachiya Ponnu (1981), Ente Mohangal Poovaninju (1982), Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram (1984).
|
| 1982
|
Mukesh
|
Balloon
|
Ramji Rao Speaking (1989).,[3] Vandanam (1989), Aakasha Ganga (1999), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Philip's (2023)
|
| 1986
|
Suresh Gopi
|
Niramulla Raavukal
|
Thalastaanam (1992), Mafia (1993), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005).
|
| 1988
|
Jayaram
|
Aparan
|
One Man Show (1990) One Man Show (2001), Winter (2009), China Town (2011), Abraham Ozler (2024)
|
| 1989
|
Saikumar
|
Ramji Rao Speaking
|
In Harihar Nagar (1990), Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1990), Chotta Mumbai (2007)
|
1990s
| Year
|
Name
|
Debut film
|
Other notable films
|
| 1994
|
Dileep[4]
|
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
|
Manathe Kottaram
|
Thenkasipattanam (2000), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Salt N' Pepper (2011), 2018 (2023)
|
| 1995
|
Kalabhavan Mani
|
Aksharam
|
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999), James Bond (1999), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007)
|
| Joju George
|
Mazhavilkoodaram
|
Action Hero Biju (2016), IDI (2016), Joseph (2018), Iratta (2023), Antony (2023)
|
| Vinayakan
|
Maanthrikam
|
Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chotta Mumbai (2007), Kammatipaadam (2016), Jailer (2023)
|
| 1997
|
Kunchacko Boban[5]
|
Aniyathipraavu
|
Nakshatratharattu (1998), Niram (1999), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)
|
2000s
| Year
|
Name
|
Debut film
|
Other notable films
|
| 2001
|
Suraj Venjaramoodu
|
Ladies & Gentleman
|
Chattambinadu (2009), Teja Bhai & Family (2011), Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019), Jana Gana Mana (2022)
|
| 2002
|
Jishnu Raghavan
|
Nammal
|
Nerariyan CBI (2005), Chakkaramuthu (2006), Ordinary (2012), Ustad Hotel (2012), Annum Innum Ennum (2013)
|
| Prithviraj Sukumaran
|
Nandanam
|
Indian Rupee (2011), Celluloid (2013), Memories, Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), Jana Gana Mana (2022), The Goat Life (2024)
|
| Indrajith Sukumaran
|
Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan
|
Chanthupottu (2005), Amen (2013), Lucifer (2019)
|
| 2002
|
Jayasurya
|
Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004), Chocolate (2007), Classmates (2006), Aadu (2015)
|
| Fahadh Faasil
|
Kaiyethum Doorath
|
Amen (2013), Bangalore Days (2014), Njan Prakashan(2018), Joji (2021), Aavesham (2024)
|
| 2005
|
Saiju Kurup
|
Mayookham
|
Aadu (2015), Antakshari (2022), Pappachan Olivilanu (2023)
|
| 2008
|
Vineeth Sreenivasan
|
Cycle
|
Traffic (2011), Kunjiramayanam (2015), Aravindante Athidhikal (2018), Mukundan Unni Associates (2022), 2018 (2023)
|
| 2009
|
Asif Ali
|
Ritu
|
Salt N' Pepper (2011), Honey Bee (2013), Kooman (2022)
|
2010s
| Year
|
Name
|
Debut film
|
Other notable films
|
| 2010
|
Nivin Pauly[6]
|
Malarvaadi Arts Club
|
Thattathin Marayathu (2012), Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Premam (2015), Kayamkulam Kochunni (2018)
|
| Chemban Vinod Jose
|
Nayakan
|
Aadu (2015), Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018), Porinju Mariam Jose (2019)
|
| 2011
|
Sreenath Bhasi
|
Pranayam
|
Da Thadiya (2012), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Manjummel Boys (2024)
|
| 2012
|
Dulquer Salmaan
|
Second Show
|
Ustad Hotel (2012), ABCD (2013), Charlie (2015), Kurup (2021)
|
| Sunny Wayne
|
Aadu (2015), Anugraheethan Antony (2021), Kasargold (2023)
|
| Arjun Ashokan
|
Orkut Oru Ormakoot
|
B.Tech (2018), Jan. E. Man (2021), Romancham (2023)
|
| 2013
|
Soubin Shahir
|
Annayum Rasoolum
|
Sudani from Nigeria (2018), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Manjummel Boys (2024)
|
| Neeraj Madhav
|
Buddy
|
Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2013), Lavakusha (2017), Gauthamante Radham (2020), RDX (2023)
|
| Sharafudheen
|
Neram
|
Pretham (2016), Role Models (2017), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)
|
| Dhyan Sreenivasan
|
Thira
|
Kunjiramayanam (2015), Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), Udal (2022)
|
| Basil Joseph
|
Up & Down: Mukalil Oralundu
|
Jan. E. Man (2021), Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022), Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (2024)
|
| 2016
|
Vishnu Unnikrishnan
|
Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan
|
Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2019), Krishnankutty Pani Thudangi (2021), Vedikettu (2023)
|
| Shane Nigam
|
Kismath
|
Parava (2017), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Bhoothakaalam (2022), RDX (2023)
|
| 2017
|
Tovino Thomas
|
Oru Mexican Aparatha
|
Minnal Murali (2021), Thallumaala (2022), 2018 (2023)
|
| Antony Varghese
|
Angamaly Diaries
|
Jallikattu (2019), Ajagajantharam (2021), RDX (2023)
|
| 2018
|
Pranav Mohanlal
|
Aadhi
|
Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu (2019), Marakkar (2021), Hridayam (2022), Varshangalkku Shesham (2024)
|
| 2019
|
Mathew Thomas
|
Kumbalangi Nights
|
Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019), Jo and Jo (2022), Nellikkampoyil Night Riders (2025)
|
| Naslen[7]
|
Thanneer Mathan Dinangal
|
Premalu (2024), Alappuzha Gymkhana (2025), Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025)
|
See also
References