Dulquer Salmaan Birthday Special: From ‘Ustad Hotel’ to ‘Bangalore Days’, 5 Malayalam Movies of ‘Pan-India’ Star With Most Recall Value and Where To Watch Them Online!

Dulquer Salmaan, born on July 28, 1983, may be a nepo kid (the son of the legendary Mammootty), but through some fine performances, he has established himself as a versatile and charismatic actor in the Indian film industry. His films may not be touching INR 1000 crore at the box office (unless you count his cameo in Kalki 2898 AD), but he has enjoyed profitable runs not just in Malayalam cinema, but also in Tamil and Telugu. His Hindi ventures have also earned him a major fan following. In a way, he is quite the Pan-India star! Dulquer Salmaan's Special Cameo In 'Kalki 2898 AD' Makes Netizens Go Crazy.

Beginning his career with the Malayalam film Second Show in 2012, Dulquer stood out with his rugged looks and raw appeal. His performance in his sophomore film, Ustad Hotel, further solidified his status as a talented actor. Over the years, he has showcased his range through various genres in Malayalam cinema, from romantic drama Bangalore Days to the intense thriller Kali and ambitious cult masterpieces like Kammatipaadam, earning accolades and a loyal fan base.

Expanding his horizons beyond Malayalam cinema, Dulquer ventured into Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films, achieving pan-Indian appeal. He earned hits in Telugu with films like Mahanati and Sita Ramam, in Tamil with OK Kanmani and Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal, while audiences loved his performance in Bollywood in movies like Karwaan, The Zoya Factor, and Chup: Revenge of the Artist.

While his recent forays into Malayalam cinema have been a mixed bag – there is the underrated thriller Salute, and there is also the much-derided gangster drama King of Kotha – Dulquer has been part of some amazing Malayalam movies that have plenty of recall value.

On the occasion of his 41st birthday, let's revisit five of Dulquer Salmaan's movies with the most recall value and where you can watch them online.

1. 'Ustad Hotel'

No matter how many times you have watched this delectable Anwar Rasheed film (scripted by Anjali Menon), you still go in tempted by Karimikka's Irani tea and Ustad Hotel's delicious biryani. An entertaining coming-of-age story, Ustad Hotel is steered by the likeable performances of Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menen, and the great Thilakan. Ustad Hotel is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Dulquer Salmaan Birthday Special: From Ustad Hotel to Varane Avashyamund, 11 Malayalam Films of the Dynamic Star We Highly Recommend to His Non-Mallu Fans!

2. 'ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi'

Martin Prakkat's enjoyable comedy brings together Dulquer Salmaan and Jacob Gregory as two wayward NRI boys who are sent to Kerala to be taught a lesson in humility by one of the boys' father. Instead, they end up creating a political furore in the state, though mostly unintentionally. Also, watch out for Tovino Thomas as the film's unfortunate antagonist. ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

3. 'Bangalore Days'

Anjali Menon's sophomore film is not only her biggest hit but also one of the most loved Malayalam films of this century. A romantic coming-of-age dramedy, the movie extracts fine performances from its ensemble cast, led by Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Isha Talwar, and Kalpana. Bangalore Days is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Yaariyan 2 Review: Divya Khosla Kumar, Meezaan Jafri, Pearl V Puri's Bangalore Days Remake Is Underwhelming, Say Critics.

4. 'Vikramadithyan'

While the rest of the movie is entertaining and engaging, the most watched portion of this Lal Jose social entertainer is, of course, its third act. No matter how many times you watch it, you still feel goosebumps seeing the comeback Dulquer Salmaan's character makes in this portion, aided by Nivin Pauly's extended cameo. The look on Anoop Menon's face is priceless. The movie also stars Unni Mukundan and Namitha Pramod. Vikramadithyan is streaming on Zee5.

5. 'Varane Avashyamund'

The directorial debut of Anoop Sathyan is an enjoyable family entertainer that benefits from the adorable re-pairing of veterans Suresh Gopi and Shobana. Dulquer Salmaan is seen more in a supporting capacity here, though he is billed as one of the leads, but it is a very likeable performance from the star. The movie also stars Kalyani Priyadarshan as the female lead and DQ's eventual romantic interest. Varane Avashyamund is streaming on Sun NXT and Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2024 12:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).