The Centre has recognised Mohanlal as the actor who pays the highest amount of GST from Malayalam cinema for the 2024-25 financial year. The Central GST Department presented the actor with the recognition in Thiruvanathapuram's Tagore Theatre yesterday. He received the award from KN Balagopal, Kerala's Finance Minister. After accepting the award, Mohanlal said that tax payment is a way of serving the country as it contributes to ensuring national security.
Mohanlal felicitated the winners of competitions among students that took place at schools in Kerala to raise awareness about GST. GST Commissioner Kalimuthu and Kerala's Regional Commissioner Kadir Rahman delivered keynote addresses as well.
The news comes just a few months after ED raids at the Chennai-based offices of Gokulam Gopalan, who is among the producers of Mohanlal's Lucifer sequel Empuraan. Interestingly, in 2023, IT looked into Mohanlal's financial transactions with his frequent collaborator, producer Antony Perumbavoor in connection with unaccounted wealth and tax evasion.
On the work front, Mohanlal plays a supporting role in the devotional epic Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu and a large ensemble of actors. The actor also has multiple projects at various stages of production. His upcoming films include Hridayapoorvam with Sathyan Anthikad; the action drama Vrusshabha; Drishyam 3 and the long-gestated Ram both with Jeethu Joseph. He also has Patriot, the Mahesh Narayanan directorial also starring Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, and Kunchacko Boban, among others, as well as a film with actor-director Anoop Menon.
