Meet Mohanlal's confidant, Antony Perumbavoor, who was once the actor's driver and is now a leading producer in the Malayalam film industry.
Mohanlal’s much-awaited film, L2 Empuraan, released on March 27, 2025, is stated to be one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. With many bets placed on the film, Empuraan is the sequel of a planned trilogy, following Lucifer (2019). The film stars Mohanlal as 'Khureshi Ab'raam/Stephen Nedumpally' in the lead, along with Prithviraj, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Indrajit Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu and various others.
The craze about Empuraan is such that many leading colleges and offices in Kerala have declared a holiday on the day of the film’s release. The mass entertainer, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, is produced through Aashirvad Cinemas. As the film is making all the noise, let us learn about the silent spectator of the success, the producer of Empuraan and almost all the blockbuster films of Mohanlal. He is none other than Antony Perumbavoor.
While many people in the entertainment world have tasted success after going through a lot of struggles in their initial stages, Antony’s journey, too, was no different. The leading businessman, who now owns a chain of multiplexes, was once Mohanlal’s part-time driver. Yes, you read that right. Let us read on to know his success story.
Born as Malekudy Joseph Antony to Joseph and Elamma, Antony hails from Perumbavoor in Kerala. When Antony turned 18, he got himself a four-wheeler jeep, which became a source of his livelihood.
It was during the shooting of Mohanlal starrer, Pattanapravesham, when Antony joined the crew as a temporary driver to the actor. On the first day, Antony and Mohanlal didn’t speak anything, but the next day, while getting off, Mohanlal offered Antony food at his home. Though he refused, those first words by ‘lal ettan’, left a lasting impression on Antony.
In 1988, when Antony took his friends to meet Mohanlal at the shooting location of Moonnam Mura, he was certain that he and his friends wouldn’t be allowed to enter the premises. However, when Mohanlal recognised him amidst the crowd, his happiness knew no bounds. The actor offered Antony the job of permanent chauffeur, and he happily accepted the opportunity.
Years later, Antony began his film production company, Ashirvad Cinemas, in 2000. The first film under the banner was Narasimham, which starred Mohanlal in the lead. The film broke all the box office records and became the highest-grosser of the year. Over the years, Aashirvad Cinemas produced films like Ravanaprabhu, Rasathanthram, Naran, Drishyam, Oppam, Lucifer, Odiyan, Neru and many others.
Apart from Aashirvad Cinemas, Antony also co-owns the film distribution company Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, along with Mohanlal and industrialist K. C. Babu. In 2016, Antony laid the foundation of his first multiplex theatre, Aashirvad Cineplexx, in Perumbavoor and later opened its multiple chains in Kerala. Antony opened a branch of Aashirvad Cinemas in Hong Kong named Feitian Aashirvad Cinemas, giving the production house a global reach.
Apart from being a successful businessman, Antony has often played supporting roles in Mohanlal’s films. As a producer, Antony has won two National Film Awards for the films, Spirit and Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham. He has also received four Kerala State Film Awards and various other accolades.
Antony Perumbavoor, who only produces Mohanlal’s films, is known to be the superstars’ ‘Man Friday’ by insiders. Despite being one of the successful producers in the Malayalam film industry, Antony loves being called Mohanlal’s driver. When Mohanlal was building one of his houses, a room was set apart, which was named ‘Antony’s room’. He only worked as Mohanlal’s driver for 10 years, and later, others took over, but their bond remained the same.
The producer has been with Mohanlal for the past 30 years. Such is their bond, and people say that Mohanlal would act in a movie if Antony approves the script. In an interview with Onmanorama, Antony talked about his bond with Mohanlal and said:
“No matter who says what, I will continue to live for that great man. I am proud to say that I am the shadow of a person who is greatly respected by the whole world. I am just driver Antony, and do not wish to be known as anything beyond that. That is how I value Lal sir in my life, and I still am his personal driver.”
Despite being one of the most successful producers in the Malayalam film industry, Antony Perumbavoor still considers himself Mohanlal’s driver. Such is his love and loyalty towards the superstar.
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