Kalyani Priyadarshan outshines ‘Uncle’ Mohanlal at box office

Mohanlal remains a legendary superstar in the Malayalam film industry, with his films often turning into record-breaking hits. After delivering blockbusters like “L2” and “Thudaram” earlier this year, he returned last weekend with “Hridayapoorvam.” However, the film struggled to draw large audiences.

In contrast, Kalyani Priyadarshan’s “Lokah Chapter 1” emerged as the top choice for Malayalam moviegoers. The film, which also released in Telugu as Kotta Lokah, outperformed Mohanlal’s latest outing at the box office.

For Kalyani, the moment carries a surreal edge: surpassing her “uncle” Mohanlal in audience pull.

Her father, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, shares a decades-long friendship and professional bond with Mohanlal, having collaborated on numerous classics. Interestingly, at one point, rumors even linked Kalyani to Mohanlal’s family, suggesting she might become his daughter-in-law, though those speculations eventually fizzled out.