Esther Anil Recalls Fun Memory: “Mohanlal Uncle Told Me Pranav’s Girlfriend Had My Name”

Actress Esther Anil, known for her role in the Drishyam franchise, recently shared a lighthearted memory involving Mohanlal and his son, Pranav Mohanlal. During an interview for the promotions of Drishyam 3, Esther recalled a story from the sets of Papanasam (the Tamil remake of Drishyam), where Pranav worked as an assistant director.

Esther revealed that during her early days in the industry, there was a discussion about changing her screen name since “Esther” was not very common in Kerala at the time. While veteran producer Maniyanpilla Raju suggested a name change, Mohanlal stepped in to support her original name.

“Lal Uncle said, ‘Esther is a beautiful name. Appu’s (Pranav’s) girlfriend’s name was also Esther. Let her keep it; don’t change it,'” Esther shared.

Pranav’s Simple Life on Set

Esther also highlighted Pranav’s well-known simplicity. She recalled how the Tamil crew of Papanasam struggled to recognize him on set. While they expected the son of a superstar to have a grand presence, they found him sitting on the floor, sporting long hair and wearing one of Mohanlal’s old, loose shirts that even had a small tear.

Despite Mohanlal sending a Jaguar for his son’s use, Pranav preferred traveling in the crew bus with everyone else. Interestingly, director Jeethu Joseph ended up using the car while Pranav stuck to his humble routine.

A “Magical” Coincidence

Years later, when Esther worked with Pranav, she couldn’t resist asking him about the name coincidence. When she questioned him about his former girlfriend named Esther, Pranav reportedly laughed and asked, “How did you find out about that?”

As Esther reprises her role as Anu George in the upcoming global release of Drishyam 3 on May 21, 2026, these behind-the-scenes stories add a “mass” layer of nostalgia for fans. The bond between the Drishyam family continues to fascinate audiences as they gear up for the trilogy’s conclusion.

For more exclusive updates on Pranav Mohanlal’s upcoming projects and the latest news from the sets of Drishyam 3, stay tuned to Simply Mollywood!