Still wish to get love letters: Mohanlal

“I don’t wish for a lot of things; because if I do, I am sure I would get it,” said screen icon Mohanlal with his quintessential charm when a female fan asked him what he would like to achieve more, despite being someone who has been honored with countless honors. The award winning actor added that he prefers going with the flow.

Mohanlal, who gave away the prizes for the winners of the ‘Lucifer Challenge’, held by Radio Mango, found some time to answer some of the questions of his fans from various places and also the challenge winners. The audience truly enjoyed some of the witty answers given by their favorite super star. Excerpts:

Who was your role model when you began your career?

I was in class six when I began acting. I was selected the best actor at the school. I was just 17 when I entered the movies. I was someone who didn’t dream to act in the movies. So, I could say that I didn’t have any role models. My parents were adamant that I should do films only after completing my graduation. The results of my B.Com course came out when I was in the location of Manjil Virinja Pookkal. I soon became busy in the movies with back to back projects. Though I couldn’t think of looking up to someone as my role model, I really like lots of actors. I analyze and observe their acting skills with so much interest.

Who is your favorite mother character in the movies?

It is difficult to pick a favorite mother. However, it is the mother in Kireedam that most people talk about and instantly comes to their minds.

Do you still get proposals and love letters?

I am someone who wishes for it always. What is wrong with someone admiring another person? When I came to the movies, we didn’t have amazing communication facilities like we have now. However, things have changed a lot now. The scope that computers and messaging platforms offer is incredible. Though I don’t go for such advanced technologies, I am connected as much as I could.

Have you ever given a love letter to anyone?

I have written love letters for lots of people. I too have done all those things that are supposed to be done by a man. Those things, however, should be taken positively. I didn’t intent to hurt anyone. Fun was the main element of such actions.

When was the first time you wore a mundu (dhoti)? Where did you learn to fold the dhoti so perfectly?

I cannot remember when I wore it for the first time. My mother may have draped me one before taking me to the temple when I was a kid. But, I got used to dhoti when I started college. You become good in it after practicing it for so long. My favorite attire is a pair of mundu and jubba or mundu and shirt.

You gave a scintillating performance as Pulimurugan. However, how many tigers have you seen in real life?

I saw lots of tigers in Vietnam and Thailand when I went there to shoot. I acted with a real tiger which weighed around 280 kilograms. These days, you talk about people as ‘puli’. So, I definitely have seen quite a lot of such ‘tigers’.

Who was the first person to inform that you had won the national award? Was there a grand celebration?

It was my father-in-law who informed me about the national award, at Chennai. He told me not to get excited until I confirm it. I had won the award for the movie Bharatham. Though I had won a special award for Kireedam, the previous year, this one was quite unexpected. I couldn’t expect an award as lots of amazing actors who deserved the honor were in the race. There weren’t any big celebrations. I felt excited only for some time.

How have the frequent journeys inspired you?

I am a person who, at a point in my life, had wished to quit movies and dedicate the rest of my life for just travel. But I still continue here. This too is a journey. Only when we travel to the different corners of the world and see the unfortunate situations, mechanical lives and the despair of the people that we realize how fortunate Keralites really are. Beautiful weather, unique geographical features with lots of rivers…Kerala is really blessed. However, we hardly realize the significance of all those blessings. Journeys help us inspire our culture and improve and share our knowledge and skills.

What is the secret of your humble demeanor?

How can I answer that question? I haven’t deliberately developed such things. Love everyone and behave with love and respect. Then you too would be respected back. To put it philosophically, I could say that one should purify their souls. 

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