The Superstar Beyond Rajinikanth & Amitabh Bachchan

Even though it’s been over 35 years since his passing, the legacy of this legendary actor continues to spark conversations. Long before the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Shah Rukh Khan, there was a superstar who made history in the Malayalam film industry—Prem Nazir. Often regarded as India’s first superstar, Nazir set records that remain untouchable even today.

Prem Nazir is credited with ushering in the golden era of Malayalam cinema. His performances were so captivating that every director of his time wanted him in their films.

Throughout his illustrious career, Nazir set countless records, including acting in the most films, playing the highest number of double and triple roles, and sharing the screen with the same heroine in nearly 130 movies. Remarkably, in 1979 alone, a staggering 39 of his films were released.

Nazir also worked with 85 different heroines over the years. By 1975, he had shared the screen with actress Sheela in 130 films, a partnership he believed was lucky for him. He became famous for playing dual roles in over 40 films and even took on triple roles in three of them.

With a staggering 700+ films to his name, including 50 blockbusters, Prem Nazir's record still stands unchallenged by any of today’s film icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, or Shah Rukh Khan.

In the 1980s, Nazir began to take on supporting roles, but his charm never waned, and he continued to deliver hit performances. However, as stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal emerged, Nazir’s appeal began to fade, and the audience's attention shifted.

Prem Nazir passed away in 1989 at the age of 59 after contracting measles. His final film, Kadathanadan Ambadi, directed by Priyadarshan, was released in 1990, marking the end of an era in Malayalam cinema.