From Flops To ₹500 Crore: Mohanlal Silences Critics With Record-Breaking 2025

June 09, 2025: Veteran actor Mohanlal had a rough ride in 2024, with both Malaikottai Vaaliban and Barroz 3D underperforming at the box office. While Vaaliban managed ₹29.75 crore and Barroz brought in ₹15.1 crore globally, the returns were underwhelming for films made on larger budgets. Critics questioned whether the legendary ‘Lalettan’ was losing his touch after over four decades in cinema.

But 2025 flipped the script.

Mohanlal stormed back with two massive blockbusters. L2: Empuraan, released in March, shattered records to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever, earning ₹265.5 crore worldwide. It also ranks as the second-highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Just a month later, Thudarum nearly matched that success, collecting ₹234.5 crore and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.

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Together, these two films alone brought in over ₹500 crore—an unheard-of milestone for any Malayalam actor. This figure doesn’t even include the ₹1.05 crore earned in just two days from the re-release of his 2007 cult hit Chotta Mumbai.

While Malayalam cinema has long been celebrated for its strong storytelling and nuanced characters, it hadn’t cracked the commercial blockbuster code—until now. With Mohanlal leading the charge, Mollywood seems to be entering a new era.

The star’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. His next film, Hridayapoorvam, a family drama, is set to release on August 28, followed by the epic action-drama Vrusshabha on October 16. Buzz is also building around an upcoming mega-film uniting three Malayalam heavyweights—Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Fahadh Faasil—which could redefine regional cinema once again.