One of the most successful Indian stars of his generation, Prithviraj Sukumaran has, over the years, become a brand unto himself, leaving his signature in most major film industries across the country. The year 2024 has been particularly noteworthy for him, with the two Malayalam films in which he starred — director Blessy’s Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) and director Vipin Das’ Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil — becoming massive hits; besides making a grand comeback to Bollywood after an 11-year hiatus with helmer Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. His performance as Najeeb Muhammad in Aadujeevitham also earned Prithviraj his third Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor.

Currently, he is working on the much-anticipated Vilayath Buddha, directed by Jayan Nambiar, as well as his third directorial venture, L2: Empuraan, a sequel to his blockbuster debut film Lucifer (2019), starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead role. Marking his 42nd birthday on Wednesday, the film’s team unveiled his first look from Empuraan, wherein he reprises his role as Zayed Masood from the first instalment of the franchise. On this special day, here are seven films you can watch or revisit to see Prithviraj Sukumaran at his best:

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While Prithviraj’s performances in early films like Stop Violence (2002) and Nandanam (2002) garnered attention, it was his role as Alex Chandy aka Kunjoonju in Swapnakoodu that won him a broader fanbase. Despite his real-life reputation as a reserved and introverted person with strong English language skills, Prithviraj shined as the young casanova hailing from a wealthy family in Kanjirappally and studying hotel management in Pondicherry, while also excelling in his usage of the Kottayam accent. Although he played one of three friends — with Malayalam cinema’s “chocolate boy” Kunchacko Boban in the mix — Prithviraj’s charm shone through and his portrayal of the carefree, no-strings-attached character with a knack for comedy earned him widespread acclaim.

In the same year that he won many hearts with his portrayal of Kunjoonju, Prithviraj also left a strong impact with his performance as the rugged and tough truck driver Chandrahasan in the AK Lohithadas directorial Chakram. Originally written for Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, the project had even seen a few days of shooting before it was shelved. Prithviraj, however, astounded everyone with his sharp portrayal of this character — vastly different from his own persona — and that too at the age of just 21. His ability to tackle such contrasting roles in the same year earned him widespread recognition and his ability to bring life to a deeply layered character, typical of the legendary screenwriter Lohithadas, impressed many.

Director Santosh Sivan’s Anandabhadram was a film that truly tapped into Prithviraj’s acting potential, as he portrayed a character that undergoes major life changes and hence experiences a wide range of emotions. In the beginning, Anandan is just a young NRI, intrigued by his mother’s native village, a place renowned for powerful wizards, including some who follow a dark path. Over time, he becomes one of the natives, winning their affection with his good heart. Meanwhile, he falls in love with his cousin Bhadra (Kavya Madhavan), though their family disapproves of the relationship. As the story unfolds, the dark wizard Digambaran (Manoj K Jayan) takes control of Anandan’s mind, forcing him to commit sinister acts on his behalf. In these scenes, Prithviraj had to embody a possessed Anandan, mirroring the nuances that Manoj brought to his role as Digambaran. While conveying his character’s powerlessness in a world of wizards, Prithviraj played Anandan with remarkable dedication, making it a career milestone.

An actor with many limitations who has, therefore, often restricted himself to roles that are muscular and intense, with a consistently tense and stoic demeanour, Prithviraj has nevertheless demonstrated his skill in excelling at these characters time and again. Director M Padmakumar’s Vargam is a prime example where he portrayed the morally complex SI Soloman Joseph. He skillfully brought out the character’s various shades of grey, delivering a commendable performance with a strong command of the role.

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The coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama was not only one of the biggest hits of his career, but it also showcased his exceptional ability to generate on-screen chemistry with almost all actors he shared the screen with. Watching him portray P Sukumaran in Classmates, it was hard for anyone to believe that he had never attended a college in Kerala for his undergraduate education, as his performance was that convincing. Prithviraj not only embodied the role of the angry young man, an active member of a leftist organisation in college, but he also shone in the romantic scenes with Kavya Madhavan and in the friendship-focused moments with actors Indrajith, Narain and Anoop Chandran, among others.

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After Classmates, Prithviraj found himself in a series of mediocre to subpar films that often focused on his muscular physique rather than his acting skills. While he did take on roles in some quality films, none garnered him significant recognition. During this period, he landed the lead role in director Lal Jose’s medical drama Ayalum Njanum Thammil, written by Bobby and Sanjay. The film, which marked a significant milestone in his career, narrated the story of Ravi Tharakan (Prithviraj) and his journey from being a medical degree holder to a doctor. Prithviraj expertly brought the character to life, doing absolute justice to the role with a richly developed arc that came full circle by the end after navigating a wide range of emotions and life stages. As a result, Dr Ravi Tharakan remains one of his most brilliant performers to date, and he rightfully earned his second Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor alongside his performance in Kamal’s Celluloid.

One of the reasons director Anjali Menon’s psychological drama Koode, an adaptation of the Marathi film Happy Journey (2014), stands out as a significant film in Prithviraj’s career is that not all actors have the courage to portray a character like Joshua Thomas at the height of their careers — but he did. Joshua, a survivor of child sexual abuse who grew up away from his family, is someone who struggles to express his emotions and has bottled them up inside. Viewers are unaware of the extent of the emotional and mental turmoil he endures, especially after the death of his sister Jennifer (Nazriya Nazim), until the very end when he finally erupts in a way that is atypical for a lead actor. In addition to his impressive performance in this nuanced role, Prithviraj’s willingness to embrace such a character also deserves recognition.