JioHotstar’s South Unbound event created a historic moment in the South Indian entertainment fraternity as three major Bigg Boss hosts — Mohanlal (Malayalam), Nagarjuna (Telugu) and Vijay Sethupathi (Tamil) — came together on one stage. In a heart-warming gesture that became the highlight of the evening, Telugu superstar Nagarjuna formally felicitated Malayalam icon Mohanlal for winning the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest recognition in cinema.
Extending his wishes, Nagarjuna recalled his personal connection to the honour, saying, “My father received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — it is the purest and most prestigious honour. I am extremely happy that Mohanlal, an actor who can convincingly perform any role, is receiving this award.”
The emotional tribute was met with applause from the audience as Nagarjuna placed a shawl around Mohanlal in a traditional gesture of respect.
Tamil star and Bigg Boss Tamil host Vijay Sethupathi joined the felicitation, expressing admiration for Mohanlal. Calling himself the actor’s biggest fan, Vijay Sethupathi revealed that he has even framed Mohanlal’s autograph at home — a testament to the profound impact the Malayalam legend has had across industries.
Mohanlal, visibly moved by the recognition, extended his gratitude on stage. “Thank you, Nagarjuna, for this honour. I consider it a matter of great pride. ANR garu has always been an inspiration to me, and I was fortunate to act with him in Gandeevam,” he said, referring to Nagarjuna’s father, the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR).
The star-studded evening also featured key dignitaries, including Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, MP Thiru Kamal Haasan, Minister for Tamil Development and Information Thiru M.P. Saminathan, along with top executives from JioStar, such as Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD & Chief Marketing Officer, and Krishnan Kutty, Head of Entertainment (South).
Adding to the significance of the event, JioHotstar announced an ambitious ₹4,000-crore investment spread across five years aimed at accelerating South India’s creative economy. The platform also unveiled a diversified content slate that includes returning hit franchises like Kerala Crime Files Season 3, Save The Tigers Season 3, Heartbeat Season 3 and The Good Wife Season 2.
New long-format originals , including Cousins And Kalyanams, Moodu Lantharlu, LBW – Love Beyond Wicket, Resort, Secret Stories: Roslin, Lingam and Vikram On Duty , underscore JioHotstar’s commitment to expanding regional storytelling.
