Prithviraj Sukumaran is an Indian actor, film producer, director, playback singer and distributor who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. Known for taking on a wide variety of roles since his debut in the early 2000s, he is among the leading figures of contemporary Malayalam cinema and has been active in expanding the industry through his production house, Prithviraj Productions.
| Full name | Prithviraj Sukumaran |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 October 1982, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Parents | Sukumaran (actor) and Mallika Sukumaran (actress) |
| Sibling | Indrajith Sukumaran (actor) |
| Spouse | Supriya Menon (married 2011) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director, singer, distributor |
| Debut film | Nandanam (2002) |
| Directorial debut | Lucifer (2019) |
| Production house | Prithviraj Productions |
| Languages worked in | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi |
Prithviraj was born on 16 October 1982 in Thiruvananthapuram into a family with deep roots in Malayalam cinema. His father, Sukumaran, was a noted character actor of the 1970s and 1980s, and his mother, Mallika Sukumaran, has also been a long-time actress in films and television. His elder brother, Indrajith Sukumaran, is an established actor in Malayalam cinema. Prithviraj completed his schooling in Thiruvananthapuram and pursued higher studies in computer engineering at the University of Tasmania in Australia before returning to India to enter films.
Prithviraj made his screen debut with Ranjith's romantic drama Nandanam (2002), opposite Navya Nair. He followed this with Stop Violence (2002) and Ammakilikoodu (2003). He briefly experimented with antagonist and morally ambiguous roles in films such as Vellithira (2003) and Vargam (2006), establishing himself as an actor willing to step away from conventional hero parts.
His performance in Blessy's Kaiyoppu (2007) marked a turning point. This phase saw him work with leading filmmakers and feature in films such as Classmates (2006), Vaasthavam (2006), Thalappavu (2008), Puthiya Mukham (2009), Pokkiri Raja (2010), Anwar (2010), Urumi (2011), Indian Rupee (2011) and Celluloid (2013). During this period he also starred in Tamil films, including Mozhi (2007) and Kana Kandaen (2005), and made his Telugu debut with Police Police (2010) and Hindi debut with Aiyyaa (2012).
After a self-imposed sabbatical from acting in 2015–2016, Prithviraj returned with Ezra (2017), a supernatural thriller that he also co-produced. Subsequent films included Tiyaan (2017), Adam Joan (2017), Ranam (2018), Driving Licence (2019), Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), Cold Case (2021), Kaduva (2022), Kaapa (2022) and Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life (2024), a long-developing Blessy film based on Benyamin's novel. He also appeared in the Hindi action film Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023) opposite Prabhas.
Prithviraj founded Prithviraj Productions, through which he has co-produced several Malayalam films alongside business partner Listin Stephen and, later, Supriya Menon. The banner has backed projects including 9 (2019), Driving Licence (2019) and Jana Gana Mana (2022).
He made his directorial debut with Lucifer (2019), a political action drama starring Mohanlal. The film became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of its time. He directed its sequel, L2: Empuraan (2025), continuing the franchise.
Prithviraj has received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performances in Vaasthavam (2006) and again for Thalappavu and Vellathooval (2008). He has also won several Filmfare Awards South, Asianet Film Awards and other regional honours over the course of his career.
Prithviraj married Supriya Menon, a former journalist, in April 2011 in Palakkad. The couple have a daughter, Alankrita, born in 2014. The family is based in Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai.
Prithviraj is regarded as part of a generation of Malayalam actors who reshaped the industry in the 2000s and 2010s by combining mainstream stardom with engagement in technically ambitious, content-driven cinema. His production company has supported newer directors and writers, and his successful direction of large-scale star vehicles has contributed to the pan-Indian visibility of Malayalam cinema.