India’s most popular actors are often thought to be a familiar handful of legends, from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to Salman Khan and Rajinikanth. However, that assumption misses a remarkable chapter of film history. A South Indian actor set a benchmark so extraordinary that no performer, north or south, has surpassed it to this day. The actor, who was born in Kerala to a Rowther family, first discovered his passion for acting on the college stage.
That early exposure led to roles in Malayalam cinema, including Marumakal Visappinte Villi. He entered the film world under his birth name, before being rechristened on the sets of a Mohan Rao film by veteran actor Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair. Few could have predicted that Thikkurissy’s suggestion would later leave a lasting imprint on Malayalam cinema. The release of Vishappinte Vili in 1952 proved decisive for the actor, marking the moment he broke through as a leading star.
He began his film career under the name Abdul Khader before adopting the screen identity Prem Nazir. Celebrated as Malayalam cinema’s “evergreen hero”, Nazir features in the Guinness World Records for starring opposite the same leading actress, Sheela, in 130 films. He also once held the record for the highest number of lead roles, with 720 films to his credit, alongside two further milestones for pairing with 80 heroines and headlining 30 releases in a single year, achieved in 1973 and again in 1977. He also received the Padma Bhushan for his work.
His filmography spans several landmark titles across decades, including Murappennu (1965), Udhyogastha (1967), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) and Kallichellamma (1969). The list continues with Virunnukari and Nadhi in 1969, followed by popular releases such as C.I.D. Nazir (1971), Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971) and Taxi Car (1972). Later highlights included Azhakulla Saleena (1973), Nellu (1974), Ariyappedatha Rahasyam (1981), Vida Parayum Munpe (1981), Padayottam (1982) and Dhwani (1988). Even decades after his passing, Prem Nazir’s stature remains unmatched. He died on January 16, 1989, aged 62, after contracting measles.
Nazir’s breakthrough came with the 1952 film Vishappinte Vili, a release that altered the course of his career and placed him firmly in the spotlight. His style of performance and commanding screen presence, unlike anything audiences were accustomed to, rapidly earned him widespread recognition. Through the 1950s and 1960s, he became synonymous with youthful romance in Malayalam cinema, eventually headlining close to 700 films. Over the years, he shared the screen with more than 80 leading actresses, including Miss Kumari and Ambika, and appeared in around 130 productions with Sheela alone.
Nazir was born in Chirayinkeezhu, then part of the princely state of Travancore, to Akkode Sahul Hamid and Asuma Beevi. He grew up in a large household with two brothers and six sisters. His childhood was marked by personal loss, with his mother, Asuma, passing away at an early age. His father later remarried someone with the same name as his late wife.
He later relocated to Changanassery to continue his education at SB College, a period that also marked his first steps into acting. His performance as Shylock in a college staging of The Merchant of Venice earned him early recognition, including a Best Actor award.
Nazir’s entry into cinema came in 1952 with S.K. Chari’s Marumakal, in which he was billed under his birth name, Abdul Khader. During the production of his second film, Visappinte Vili, poet and playwright Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair proposed the screen name Prem Nazir. He arrived in the industry at a time when stage drama dominated popular entertainment and cinema was still finding its feet, yet he quickly cultivated a devoted following. Before long, Nazir emerged as a refined leading man and a favourite among younger audiences.
Prem Nazir’s career as a leading figure in Malayalam cinema stretched across more than three decades. It was a period marked by extraordinary output and record-setting achievements. His range of roles and enduring appeal set him apart from his contemporaries. Known for his commitment to the craft and deep respect for cinema, Nazir’s performances and commanding screen presence left a lasting imprint on the industry, earning him the epithet Nithyaharitha Nayakan, or the evergreen hero.
Prem Nazir was married to Habeeba Beevi, and the couple had four children. Their family included two elder daughters, Laila and Rasiya, followed by a son, Shanavas, and a younger daughter, Rita. Reports have suggested that Shanavas later married Ayisha Beevi, the daughter of Nazir’s eldest sister, Suleikha Beevi. Although Shanavas made brief forays into cinema, he did not establish a lasting career in the industry.
