Mammootty vs Mohanlal, the two superstars of the Malayalam film industry, are not just actors but symbols of Kerala’s cultural identity. For decades, these two superstars have ruled the South Indian film industry with their extraordinary acting and cinematic skills.The recent discussion is who is the best actor in Kerala? Mammootty vs Mohanlal: Who holds the record?
As of 2025, Mammootty has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor 7 times, while Mohanlal has won the prestigious award 6 times. As a result, Mammootty is currently considered the record holder for the best actor award.
But beyond the numbers, both have a huge and enthusiastic fan base. While Mammootty’s acting has a sharp sense of realism and depth of character, Mohanlal’s acting has emotion, naturalness and multi-dimensional expression. The films they acted together in, like Harikrishnan’s or Twenty:20, are memorable to the audience.
Popular Movies:
| Popular films of Mammootty | Popular films of Mohanlal |
| Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) | Bharatham (1991) |
| Mathilukal (1990) | Vanaprastham (1999) |
| Ponthan Mada (1994) | Kireedam (1989) |
| Peranbu (2018) | Drishyam (2013) |
| Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023) | Pulimurugan (2016) |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) | Lucifer (2019) |
Kerala State Best Actor Awards: Mammootty vs Mohanlal
Mammootty:
- Total Awards win 7 time (record most)
- Years of award: 1981, 1983, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2005, and 2025
- Notable Award Winning Films: Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Peranbu, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Turbo.
- Each of his films his character has depth, restraint, and realistic sensitivity.
Mohanlal:
- Total wins: 6 times
- Years of award: 1986, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, and 2016
- Notable Award Winning Films: Kireedam, Bharatham, Vanaprastham, Thanmathra, Drishyam
- Mohanlal’s acting is known for his natural expressions, emotional dialogues, and perfect realism.
Recent Achievements:
Mammootty received huge acclaim for his latest film Turbo in 2025 and was hailed by critics as one of the strongest performances of his career. Mohanlal is not far behind his upcoming film L2: Empuraan has already garnered huge interest among the audience.
The Mammootty vs Mohanlal debate has become a part of South Indian film culture. Although Mammootty is ahead in terms of records, both of them equally rule the hearts of the audience. In a word, these two legends are the real assets of the Malayalam industry.
Final word
Mammootty and Mohanlal these two names will be written in the golden letters in the history of cinema not just of Kerala but of the entire India. Both of them have reached a level where comparing them means paying homage to each other.
Mammootty leads in terms of numbers he has won the Kerala State Best Actor Award the most, 7 times. On the other hand, Mohanlal is equally strong in terms of his versatile acting and popularity.
However this Mammootty vs Mohanlal debate is never about hatred, rather it is a brilliant competition in Kerala’s film culture.
Read More: Welcome to Derry: Series Review Full Story, Cast and Budget Find out the full info
