Mar 13, 2026 9:45am IST
Priyadarshan Spills The Beans On His 100th Film, Which Stars Mohanlal: ‘It Will Be Based On Music’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan is planning a major milestone project for his 100th directorial feature, and he intends to mark the occasion by reuniting with longtime collaborator and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal. The film will bring together one of Indian cinema’s most enduring actor–director partnerships, a collaboration that has produced several iconic Malayalam films over the decades.
In a conversation with Variety India, the Bhoot Bangla director shared his vision for his 100th film, which stars the actor. “I am doing my hundredth film with Mohanlal, who was also my first film hero. It has never happened in the history of cinema that someone has made his first and last film with the same actor, so let’s make it happen if God is willing.”
While details about the film remain under wraps, Priyadarshan hinted that the project will depart from his trademark comedy space.“It’s not a comedy film. I don’t want to announce too much right now, but it is basically based on music,” he added.
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Over the decades, Priyadarshan and Mohanlal have collaborated on several iconic Malayalam films such as “Minnaram,” “Oppam,” “Geethaanjali” and many others helping shape a golden era of popular cinema in Kerala.
Reflecting on Mohanlal as an artist, Priyadarshan spoke about the actor’s rare ability to remain unaffected by both success and failure. “I have never seen him celebrating. And in the failure of a film, I have never seen him disappointed,” Priyadarshan said.
According to the director, Mohanlal approaches his work with a singular focus on the craft rather than the outcome.“There is something very lovely about him. He believes that he has done his job and the rest is not his responsibility,” he says. “Once he commits to a role, he puts 100 percent of himself into it.”
Priyadarshan added that unlike many actors who become anxious when films underperform, Mohanlal remains remarkably steady. He says, “I have seen many actors become insecure when films go wrong, but I have never seen that with Mohanlal. I have seen success hitting him as well, and still you see the same person. That is something I really admire about him.”
If the project moves forward as planned, the film will not only mark a major milestone in Priyadarshan’s career but also another chapter in one of Indian cinema’s most enduring actor–director collaborations.
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