'Mohanlal is someone who likes his comfort zone,' says director Ranjith

In an interview with New Indian Express, acclaimed Malayalam director Ranjith delved into the contrasting attitudes of two stalwarts of Indian cinema, Mohanlal and Mammootty, towards collaborating with new talent. Ranjith shed light on their differing approaches, highlighting their unique personas within the industry.

Ranjith candidly shared his observations, stating, "Mohanlal is someone who likes his comfort zone.He has been like that. He is not comfortable with new directors or scriptwriters." In contrast, Ranjith described Mammootty as the complete opposite, as he said, “ If he senses that someone new has potential, he would send for the person."

When asked about whether Mohanlal's approach hindered his full potential, Ranjith pointed out Mohanlal's recent collaboration with director Lijo Jose Pellissery for ‘Malaikottai Vaaliban’. He painted a portrait of Mohanlal's reserved nature, noting that despite portraying characters who conquer hundreds on screen, he remains reserved amidst unknown crowds. In contrast, Mammootty thrives in engaging with diverse audiences.
Ranjith didn't mince words when praising Mohanlal's acting prowess, acknowledging his versatility and convincing performances. He humorously remarked on the synchronization between his writing style and Mohanlal's rhythm, emphasizing how their collaborative efforts have been perceived positively within the industry.
Meanwhile, Ranjith has worked with Mohanlal for several superhit films such as ‘Aaram Thamburan’ (writer), ‘Devasuram’ (writer), ‘Narasimham’, and many others. Mammootty and Ranjith have also collaborated for the films ‘Valliettan’ (writer), ‘Ravanaprabhu’ (writer), ‘Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha’, and many more.