Priyadarshan

Actor Mohanlal, his college friend, urged him to get into movies.

Films were never his first choice - he used to play a lot of cricket, but an injury to his left eye where a ball hit him ended his hopes of a career in cricket.

Aside from Malayalam films, has also directed Hindi (Gardish and Muskurahat), Tamil (Gopura Vaasililae) and Telugu movies (Nirnayam).

Won the Kerala State Award for Best Director in 1995. He also directed Thenmavin Kombath (1994), which won for Best Film With Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value.

He met his wife, Malayalam actress Lizy, on the set of his second film. They have done 12 movies together, though she has quit acting now.