09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Mohanlal to next play a cop in movie helmed by debutant
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal began 2025 with the political thriller L2: Empuraan, a sequel to his 2019 blockbuster Lucifer, that featured a barrage of leading Indian actors and struck box office gold. He followed that up with Thudarum, the thriller that had its makers laughing to the bank and wowing critics and analysts.
On July 9, the actor took to social media to announce his latest project, tentatively titled L 365, which will be directed by debutant Austin Dan Thomas, who starred in the 2022 action comedy Thallumaala.
While other details of the movie's crew are under wraps, Mohanlal said Retheesh Ravi will be its writer. L 365, or Mohanlal's 365th movie in the lead (yes, you read that right), will be produced by Ashiq Usman under the banner Ashiq Usman Productions.
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The cop movie genre, however, isn't new to Mohanlal.
Ram Gopal Varma's Company might be the first port of call for many cinema buffs referencing the actor's cop roles. As Inspector General Veerappalli Srinivasan, Mohanlal's role, which seeks to eliminate Mumbai's criminal gangs, lent gravitas to the 2002 crime drama. But he has essayed many prominent roles as the man protecting the law.
Be it the cult classic Malayalam comedy Pattinapravesham (1988) to 2017's Villain or the Tamil action thriller Unnaipol Oruvan (2009) that sees him face off against Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal has donned the khaki on screen with aplomb.
The evergreen hit Kireedam (1989), in which his dreams to become a police officer come crashing at the last minute, is a constant recall in Kerala's pop culture, thanks to his moving and nuanced portrayal.
Mohanlal's hits of 2025, however, saw him portray law breakers. In L2: Empuraan, he reprised his role of Stephen Nedumpally, a smuggler who sets out to protect his homeland, whereas in Thudarum, he explores his darker side following an adversity.
What kind of a cop will Mohanlal portray in L 365? Watch this space for further developments.
