Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Ekta Kapoor says that working with the veteran South Indian actor Mohanlal is a matter of great fortune for her.

The year 2025 has been an excellent one for Ekta Kapoor, who has further strengthened her hold across various formats and industries.

Completing 30 years in the Indian entertainment world, Ekta Kapoor recently won her first National Award for Kathal, announced a collaboration with Netflix, and successfully brought back the popular TV serial ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ with Smriti Irani.

One of the many milestones this year was Balaji’s entry into Malayalam cinema, which further expanded this banner’s creative potential. Ekta Kapoor expressed her reverence for actor Mohanlal while sharing her experience of working with him in her first Malayalam film project. She said that stepping into the Malayalam film industry is a great honor for Balaji.

Mohanlal is one of the most revered artists of our time. When this project came to us, it felt like a sign from above, and we finally got the chance to be part of content in Malayalam cinema, where some of the most excellent material is created.

Bollywood

Bollywood is the informal term for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India, which is one of the largest centers of film production in the world. It originated in the early 20th century, with its first silent film in 1913, and grew to define the popular “masala” genre—a vibrant mix of drama, music, and dance. Today, it is a global cultural phenomenon, deeply influencing Indian society and entertainment across the diaspora.

National Award

“National Award” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a general term for a state honor given by a country to recognize achievement. For example, India’s **National Film Awards** were established in 1954 to honor cinematic excellence, while many countries have national awards for contributions to arts, science, or public service. Their history is tied to the founding of the modern nation-state and its efforts to celebrate and incentivize national achievement.

Kathal

“Kathal” does not correspond to a widely recognized major historical or cultural site. It is the Hindi word for “jackfruit,” a large tropical fruit common in South and Southeast Asia. In some local contexts in India, it may refer to small villages or areas, but it does not have a notable global historical significance as a cultural landmark.

Netflix

Netflix is a global streaming service founded in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail rental company in the United States. It revolutionized home entertainment by pioneering a subscription-based model and shifting to online streaming in 2007, leading to its current status as a dominant producer and distributor of original films and series worldwide.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

“Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a highly popular and long-running Indian television soap opera that aired from 2000 to 2008. It became a cultural phenomenon in India, focusing on the dynamics of a joint family and famously popularizing the phrase “Mihir Virani” as a cliffhanger. Its history is as a defining show of its era, reflecting and influencing societal conversations about family relationships and melodramatic storytelling in Indian television.

Balaji

“Balaji” typically refers to the Hindu deity Lord Venkateswara, whose primary temple is the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the world’s richest and most-visited religious sites, with a history of worship dating back over a millennium, mentioned in ancient texts like the Puranas. The temple is renowned for its Dravidian architecture and the tradition of *tonsuring* (head-shaving) offered by devotees.

Malayalam cinema

Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry based in the Indian state of Kerala, producing movies in the Malayalam language. It originated in the 1920s, with the first talkie, *Balan*, released in 1938, and is globally renowned for its artistic realism, strong screenwriting, and social commentary. Since the 1970s “New Wave” movement, it has consistently produced critically acclaimed works, with directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan and more recent auteurs gaining international recognition.

Malayalam film industry

The Malayalam film industry, based in Kerala and often called “Mollywood,” is one of India’s major regional cinema hubs known for its artistic and realistic storytelling. It began with the silent film *Vigathakumaran* (1928) and gained national prominence in the 1970s and 1980s through the “New Wave” or “Parallel Cinema” movement, which focused on social realism. Today, it continues to be critically acclaimed for its content-driven narratives and technical excellence.