Legendary Tamil actor Kamal Haasan has congratulated his long-time friend and fellow cinema icon Mohanlal on being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, Indian cinema’s highest honour. Taking to social media on Wednesday, the Nayakan actor wrote, “Delighted to see my dear friend Lalettan honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. A true artist whose craft has touched millions and will continue to inspire generations. A richly deserved recognition.”

The heartfelt post quickly won the attention of fans across the south, with many celebrating the bond between two of Indian cinema’s most respected actors. Mohanlal received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Tuesday. With a career spanning over four decades and more than 350 films to his credit, he becomes only the second person from Kerala, after veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, to be honoured with the Phalke Award.

The only time Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal shared screen space was in the 2009 film Unnai Pol Oruvan, the Tamil remake of the Hindi thriller A Wednesday. While Mohanlal played a sharp-witted police officer, Kamal Haasan took on the role essayed by Naseeruddin Shah in the original. The film was both a critical and commercial success and remains fondly remembered by fans of both stars.

Meanwhile, some film lovers felt it was high time Kamal Haasan too was honoured with the prestigious award, given his immense contributions as an actor, filmmaker, writer and all-round multi-hyphenated personality. Similar sentiments were echoed for Malayalam superstar Mammootty, another titan of Indian cinema yet to be recognised with the Phalke. Among their South Indian contemporaries, only Rajinikanth received the honour before Mohanlal.