First appeared in a lead role in Devalokam in 1979, although this film was never completed and remains unreleased
Three-time winner of the National Film Award for Best Actor
Winner of eleven Filmfare awards
Received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 1998
Chairman of Malayalam Communications, as of 2010
Involved in many charitable organisations and projects, including the Pain and Palliative Care Society, the Jeevan Jothi project and the Street India Movement, amongst others