On January 30, 2026, actor Mohanlal extended warm birthday wishes to his "dear" friend and longtime collaborator, director Priyadarshan, through a heartfelt social media post featuring a previously unseen photograph. The gesture quickly resonated with fans and followers, celebrating the enduring bond between two of Indian cinema's most respected figures.

Mohanlal's social media handle became the platform for the birthday greeting, where he shared a throwback picture capturing a candid moment between him and Priyadarshan. The image immediately drew attention, offering a glimpse into their personal camaraderie. The photo, which appears to be from the sets of their 1994 film 'Thenmavin Kombathu', shows Priyadarshan directing Mohanlal.

Priyadarshan, a prominent filmmaker with a career spanning over four decades, has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, with contributions in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films. His collaborations with Mohanlal have resulted in numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, solidifying their reputation as a formidable actor-director duo.

Their professional relationship began long before their cinematic ventures, as they were friends during their college years. Their first collaboration was for 'Thiranottam', where Mohanlal acted, and Priyadarshan served as an assistant director. Over the years, they have worked together on several films, including 'Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu', 'Vellanakalude Nadu', 'Chithram', 'Vandanam', 'Kilukkam', 'Mithunam', 'Thenmavin Kombath', 'Kaalapani', and 'Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham'.

Priyadarshan's influence extends beyond directing, as he has played a significant role in shaping the careers of numerous superstars in Indian cinema, including Nedumudi Venu, KPAC Lalitha, Revathi, Shobana, Jagathy Sreekumar, Lissy, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, and Kareena Kapoor. His ability to bring out the best in his actors has earned him widespread recognition and respect within the industry.

Mohanlal, born on May 21, 1960, is known for his contributions to Malayalam cinema, with appearances in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada-language films.

On the work front, Priyadarshan is currently involved in his upcoming Malayalam film, 'Corona Papers'. He is also directing Mohanlal in a segment of an anthology based on the stories of writer MT Vasudevan Nair.