RGV’s bold statement on Mohanlal being conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke award goes viral

Ram Gopal Varma, an Indian film director and screenwriter, congratulated Mohanlal on receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's most prestigious honor in Indian cinema. The director-screenwriter recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he praised the actor for receiving the award. He also added that Dadasaheb Phalke should receive the Mohanlal Award, and not the other way around. He wrote, "I don't know much about Dadasaheb Phalke except that he made the first-ever film, which I didn't see, and I never met anyone who saw it. But from what I have seen and know of Mohanlal, I think Dadasaheb Phalke should be given the MOHANLAL AWARD."

I don't know much about #DadasahebPhalke except that he's made the 1st ever film , which i dint see and I never met anyone who saw it , but from what I saw and know of @Mohanlal , I think Dadasaheb Phalke should be given the MOHANLAL AWARD ???

Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) September 20, 2025

Ram Gopal Varma's tweets

In another post, he continued sharing his thoughts and expressed that he does not believe we should confine the idea of greatness to just those who have passed away. He mentioned that the greats can also be found among the living. He posted, "It's not that the GREATS are only in the GONE. There are many GREATS among the LIVING who are actually FAR GREATER than the GONE. GONE cannot be an additional qualification or an achievement. So I think it's high time that we honor the GONE GREATS by giving them awards named after the LIVING GREATS, and that's when discrimination will truly end between the LIVING and the GONE."

It's not that the GREATS are only in the GONE ..There are many GREATS among the LIVING who are actually FAR GREATER than the GONE .. GONE cannot be neither an additional qualification nor an achievement .. So I think it's high time that we honour the GONE GREATS by giving them

Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) September 20, 2025

Ram Gopal Varma and Mohanlal

The director and actor have worked together in a Bollywood film called Company. Released in 2002, the film also starred Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, and Manisha Koirala in prominent roles. In Company, Mohanlal played the role of an IPS officer.

Mohanlal receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

For the unversed, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made the official announcement of Mohanlal receiving the said award on September 20 through an Instagram post. In the post, they shared that he will receive the award at the 71st National Film Awards, which are scheduled to take place on September 23, 2025.