Dulquer Salmaan

Dulquer Salmaan is an Indian actor, producer, singer, and philanthropist who primarily works in Malayalam cinema, alongside appearances in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films. Born on 28 July 1983 to actor Mammootty, Salmaan is recognized as one of the highest-paid Malayalam actors. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including five Filmfare Awards South, a Kerala State Film Award, a Kerala Film Critics Association Award, and a Telangana Gaddar Film Award.

Salmaan was born in Kochi to Mammootty and Sulfath Kutty. He completed his primary education at Toc-H Public School in Kochi and his secondary education at Sishya School in Chennai. He later earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Purdue University and worked as a business manager at an IT firm in Dubai. Deciding to transition into acting, he completed a three-month course at the Barry John Acting Studio in Mumbai. On 22 December 2011, he married architect Amal Sufiya, with whom he has a daughter.

Salmaan made his feature film debut in 2012 with Srinath Rajendran's Malayalam crime film Second Show. His performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South. He followed this with Anwar Rasheed's commercial success Ustad Hotel. In 2013, he made his singing debut with the song Johnny Mone Johnny in the film ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi. His other early projects included the road film Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, Pattam Pole, and a segment in the anthology 5 Sundarikal.

Salmaan achieved his career breakthrough in 2014 with Anjali Menon's Bangalore Days, which became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. That year, he also starred in Vikramadithyan, Njaan, and the Tamil-Malayalam bilingual Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – Tamil. In 2015, he starred in Mani Ratnam's Tamil film O Kadhal Kanmani and played the title role in Charlie, which won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor. In 2016, he earned the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Malayalam for his performances in Kali and Kammatipaadam.

Salmaan continued his work in Malayalam films with Jomonte Suvisheshangal, Comrade in America, and the bilingual anthology Solo in 2017. He made his Telugu cinema debut in 2018 with Mahanati, winning the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Telugu, and entered Hindi cinema the same year with Karwaan. In 2020, he established his production company, Wayfarer Films, producing and starring in Varane Avashyamund, followed by roles in Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal and the 2021 box-office hit Kurup.

In 2022, Salmaan starred in the Tamil release Hey Sinamika, the Malayalam police drama Salute, the Hindi film Chup: Revenge of the Artist, and the Telugu film Sita Ramam, which earned him another Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Telugu. In 2023, he starred in the Netflix web series Guns & Gulaabs, the Malayalam film King of Kotha, and the music video Heeriye. In 2024, after making a cameo in Kalki 2898 AD, he starred in the Telugu film Lucky Baskhar, winning the Telangana Gaddar Film Award – Special Jury.