Malayalam cinema has earned a proud moment on the national stage as three prominent names from the industry have secured positions in IMDb’s Top 10 Most Popular Indian Actors and Directors for 2025. The list, compiled by the global entertainment database IMDb, is based on page views from more than 250 million monthly visitors worldwide.
Among actors, Kalyani Priyadarshan emerged as the highest-ranked Malayalam star, securing the 7th position on the national popularity chart. Her growing influence, acclaimed performances, and diverse roles across South Indian cinema have contributed to her rising national visibility.
In the directors’ category, Malayalam cinema shone brightly with Prithviraj Sukumaran and Dominic Arun making it to the top 10. Prithviraj, known for his ambitious and large-scale filmmaking, secured the 5th position, while Dominic Arun, admired for his unique storytelling style, ranked 8th.
They share the list with several leading filmmakers from across India, including Mohit Suri, Aamir Khan, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Anurag Kashyap, and Neeraj Ghaywan, the director of India’s Oscar entry Homebound.
The actors’ popularity list also features major Indian stars such as Aamir Khan, Ishaan Khatter, Rashmika Mandanna, and Rishab Shetty, reflecting the diverse talent capturing the attention of global audiences.
The strong presence of Malayalam artists in both categories underscores the industry’s expanding national influence and the increasing global recognition of Malayalam cinema’s creative excellence.