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He’s not just a performer but a blend of charm grace and quiet intensity. Fondly called “Kunjikka” by admirers his journey didn’t begin with glitz but with grounded ambition far from the arc lights. He didnt rely on a towering legacy alone; he earned his stripes with nuanced roles linguistic versatility and a magnetic screen presence. Be it a poetic romantic or a layered anti-hero he becomes the character and shines on the big screen whose shine will never fade away because he is not just an artist but a blend of art and masterful craft. Who is this actor This remarkable actor is none other than Dulquer Salmaan the son of legendary Malayalam icon Mammootty who is currently celebrating his 43rd birthday. Born in 1986 in Kochi he spent his early years studying in Chennai and then earned a business degree from Purdue University in the USA. After a stint in the IT business in Dubai feeling uninspired he enrolled in a three‑month acting course at Barry John Acting Studio in Mumbai and embraced cinema as his sacred profession. How did Dulquer Salmaan establish himself as an artist? Dulquer debuted with the gritty Malayalam crime drama Second Show (2012) playing a gangster a role he chose deliberately to earn respect as a hero rather than rely on legacy. But it was Ustad Hotel later that same year where he played a chef named Faizy garnering wide acclaim and a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut alongside his first Best Actor nomination. Bold choices in diverse roles from ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi to Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi helped build his reputation as a soulful entertainer. Notable works of Dulquer Salmaan By year 2014-15 Dulquer had exploded onto the pan‑Indian stage. He starred in Bangalore Days one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest hits and ventured into Tamil with Vaayai Moodi Pesavum winning a debut award. His performance in Charlie not only won him a Kerala State Film Award but also cemented his place as a charismatic lead across industries. He later appeared in O Kadhal Kanmani Kurup and debuted in Bollywood with Karwaan alongside Late Irrfan Khan and Mithila Palkar The Zoya Factor with Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and critically acclaimed Chup with Shreya Dhanwanthary and Sunny Deol. Later Dulquer reached new heights with the Telugu hits Sita Ramam and Lucky Baskhar a smart black‑comedy crime drama helmed by Venky Atluri. Made on a Rs 100 crore budget the film grossed Rs 111.9 crore and made him the first Malayalam actor to win the Telangana State Film Award (Special Jury) for Best Actor. More about Dulquer Salmaan Beyond acting he leads Wayfarer Films his own production banner steering Malayalam cinema toward new horizons. His upcoming slate includes Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra a pioneering female‑led superhero film and the first “superhero cinematic universe” in Malayalam now in post‑production. On the personal front he married Chennai‑based architect Amal Sufiya in 2011 through a quiet arranged wedding. Their daughter Maryam Ameerah born in May 2017 is the pride of the family.