In a 1994 interview with Doordarshan, Malayalam superstar Mammootty revealed the story behind how he got his iconic stage name. For those unaware, Mammootty’s real name is Mohammad Kutty — a name he said he wasn’t particularly proud of. He had credited a college friend for giving him the name that went on to create history in Indian cinema. During the interview, the actor also said he didn’t know where that friend was. Now, more than 30 years later, the two have reunited, and the star introduced him to everyone at a grand event.

Mammootty introduces college friend

In the Doordarshan interview, he shared that he wasn’t fond of his real name and adopted a new one when he began college. “I would tell everyone who asked my name that it was Omar Sharif. However, when my college identity card fell out of my pocket, someone saw it and asked me, ‘Is your name Mammootty?’ That was how I got the name.” Back then, he had also mentioned the friend’s name — Sasidharan — while admitting he didn’t know his whereabouts.