Dulquer Salmaan is currently making headlines for his much-awaited film Kaantha, directed by Selvamani Selvaraj. The movie, co-starring Rana Daggubati, Samuthirakani, and Bhagyashri Borse, is slated for release on November 14. While fans are eagerly awaiting the action drama, Dulquer has also shared rare personal insights about his bond with his father and Malayalam cinema icon, Mammootty.
Dulquer opens up about fame and dad Mammootty
During a candid conversation with media portal, Dulquer opened up about growing up in the shadow of one of India’s most respected actors and the lessons he learned about fame, fear, and humility. Looking at his father’s long journey in cinema, he said that success in the industry was never taken for granted in their home.
“I grew up seeing how my father came from a family of six kids and faced a lot of struggles,” Dulquer told THR India. He explained that Mammootty often reminded him that his success was like winning a “rare lottery,” and that fame could disappear just as quickly as it arrived.
The 38-year-old actor revealed that despite Mammootty’s superstar status, there was always an undercurrent of uncertainty. “I’ve seen my dad fear ageing,” Dulquer shared, recalling that Mammootty often worried about how turning older would affect his position as a leading man. The veteran actor, he said, had seen many of his peers in the 1980s lose their careers to time.
One conversation, in particular, stayed with Dulquer forever. He remembered Mammootty speaking to his friends, who were doctors and lawyers, and telling them how different their professions were. “He’d tell them, ‘It’s different for you guys. As you age, your value goes up. But for us actors, it’s the opposite,’” Dulquer recounted. That statement, he said, revealed how fragile fame could be, no matter how big the name.
Having witnessed his father’s emotional struggles with career insecurity, Dulquer said he learned early on to be disciplined, grounded, and grateful. “We’ve been blessed with opportunities, but we also live with the constant fear of failure,” he admitted. Dulquer feels it's their responsibility to prove that the actors deserve everything what they've been given.
The actor-producer, known for balancing Malayalam and pan-Indian cinema, has built a reputation for versatility and humility, traits he credits to his father’s influence. Dulquer’s insights paint a rare picture of the man behind Mammootty’s stardom.
As he gears up for the release of Kaantha, Dulquer is also preparing to collaborate with Mammootty in upcoming parts of the Lokah cinematic universe. His last production, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, co-starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen, became a blockbuster in 2024.
Kaantha lands in trouble ahead of release
Moreover, ahead of Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming film Kaantha release, the film has landed in controversy after M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s grandson, B. Thiagarajan, filed a petition in a Chennai court claiming the movie misrepresents the late actor-singer. He alleged that the film wrongly portrays Bhagavathar as a man of loose morals who ended up penniless and begging, whereas in reality, he was a respected, devout, and charitable personality who lived a simple, disciplined life and was known for his integrity.
Dulquer opens up about fame and dad Mammootty
During a candid conversation with media portal, Dulquer opened up about growing up in the shadow of one of India’s most respected actors and the lessons he learned about fame, fear, and humility. Looking at his father’s long journey in cinema, he said that success in the industry was never taken for granted in their home.“I grew up seeing how my father came from a family of six kids and faced a lot of struggles,” Dulquer told THR India. He explained that Mammootty often reminded him that his success was like winning a “rare lottery,” and that fame could disappear just as quickly as it arrived.
The 38-year-old actor revealed that despite Mammootty’s superstar status, there was always an undercurrent of uncertainty. “I’ve seen my dad fear ageing,” Dulquer shared, recalling that Mammootty often worried about how turning older would affect his position as a leading man. The veteran actor, he said, had seen many of his peers in the 1980s lose their careers to time.
One conversation, in particular, stayed with Dulquer forever. He remembered Mammootty speaking to his friends, who were doctors and lawyers, and telling them how different their professions were. “He’d tell them, ‘It’s different for you guys. As you age, your value goes up. But for us actors, it’s the opposite,’” Dulquer recounted. That statement, he said, revealed how fragile fame could be, no matter how big the name.
Having witnessed his father’s emotional struggles with career insecurity, Dulquer said he learned early on to be disciplined, grounded, and grateful. “We’ve been blessed with opportunities, but we also live with the constant fear of failure,” he admitted. Dulquer feels it's their responsibility to prove that the actors deserve everything what they've been given.
The actor-producer, known for balancing Malayalam and pan-Indian cinema, has built a reputation for versatility and humility, traits he credits to his father’s influence. Dulquer’s insights paint a rare picture of the man behind Mammootty’s stardom.
As he gears up for the release of Kaantha, Dulquer is also preparing to collaborate with Mammootty in upcoming parts of the Lokah cinematic universe. His last production, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, co-starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen, became a blockbuster in 2024.