Mohanlal and Mammootty, two of South India’s biggest stars, have been thick as thieves for years. Recently, rumors swirled that 73-year-old Mammootty had cancer and was taking time off work, but his team quickly debunked the rumors. Not long after, Mohanlal was spotted praying at the Sabarimala temple, reportedly for Mammootty’s health. He even wrote down Mammootty’s name at the temple, which was later leaked, sparking a frenzy over religious lines. Critics cried foul, saying Mammootty, a Muslim, should apologize if he’d asked Mohanlal to pray for him.
Renowned writer Javed Akhtar weighed in on the controversy, saying he wishes every Mammootty had a friend like Mohanlal and every Mohanlal had a friend like Mammootty. Akhtar made it clear that their beautiful friendship is lost on small-minded people, but who cares?
Akhtar took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his thoughts, saying their friendship transcends petty criticism. On March 18, Mohanlal handed a note to the priest during the ‘Usha Puja’ ceremony at Sabarimala temple, mentioning Mammootty’s birth name, Muhammad Kutty, and his birth star, Vishakam. A receipt from the Devaswom office later surfaced, confirming the news.
Javed Akhtar Breaks His Silence
Akhtar’s tweet highlighted the beauty of Mohanlal and Mammootty’s friendship, which has been a subject of discussion on social media.
Reactions to Mohanlal’s gesture were mixed, with some seeing it as a symbol of communal harmony and others claiming it went against Islamic beliefs. Critics argued that Mammootty, as a Muslim, should apologize if he’d requested the Hindu prayer.
Call for Apology
Some even went so far as to say Mammootty should apologize for allegedly asking Mohanlal to pray for him, citing Islamic laws that dictate only Allah should be prayed to.
Mohanlal had earlier told NDTV that he’d prayed for his family, as well as Mammootty, and that it wasn’t the first time he’d done so. Filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, who was with Mohanlal, said this wasn’t the first time Mohanlal had prayed for his friends and family, but it made news this time around.