‘Patriot’, one of Mollywood’s most awaited films of 2026, will hit the theaters on May 1 with a big ensemble cast led by Mammootty and Mohanlal. Producer Subhash George Manuel has now confirmed this Suresh Gopi he was first considered for the cameo role which went to Mohanlal. The update has attracted attention as the film already features top names in Malayalam cinema and has been widely discussed for its casting choices.
Suresh Gopi was the first choice for the cameo in ‘Patriot’
According to Onmanorama, the confirmation came at a press conference held on Friday. Subhash George Manuel, who is bankrolling ‘Patriot’ through Kichappu Films along with Anto Joseph Film Company, said that Mahesh Narayanan had first spoken about Suresh Gopi when he pitched the story.Rumors had already suggested that Suresh Gopi was the original choice. Manuel’s comment clearly confirms these reports. The producer said that initial talks for the role focused on casting Suresh Gopi, before the part changed direction.Mohanlal missed the press meet because he was in the US for a stage show. The event was attended by Mahesh Narayanan, Mammootty, Kunchacko Boban, Darshana Rajendran, Zarin Shihab and Grace Antonio.
Mohanlal’s cameo and ‘Patriot’ cast details
Mammootty recently revealed in an interview that he suggested Mohanlal’s name when the makers felt they needed a famous actor from the North. According to reports, the character changed significantly during the writing stage and then became a larger than life figure in the final version.Mohanlal and Nayanthara were reportedly among the last actors to join the cast. The film’s cast has remained one of its biggest talking points ahead of its release.At the same press meet, Grace Antony shared how she joined ‘Patriot’. He said he noticed him when Mahesh Narayanan visited the set to meet Mammootty and asked him if he would be interested in a role. “I said yes,” Grace recalled. Producer Anto Joseph later reminded Mammootty of Mahesh’s suggestion, and Mammootty felt that Grace could handle the part.
