Busy shooting for Mahasamudram, Mohanlal has his hands full with offers including the bi-lingual (Malayalam and Tamil) Keerthi Chakra, in which he plays a major posted in Kashmir. He plays a photographer Sir John in Renjan Pramod's debut film Photographer, he plays an 85-year-old in Pardesi and the lead in Akashagopuram, which is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play Master Builder.

Asked how does he manage to choose the best among the pouring offers, Lal says,'There is no planning. The roles keep coming. As far as roles are concerned, actors are beggars; they cannot afford to choose. It is not as if I ever planned on doing the movie version of Ibsen's play'.

Now, directors are willing to experiment and are coming up with new themes. Photographer is set against the backdrop of the Adivasi agitation at Muthanga.

Awaiting to commence the shooting for the remake of Sholay by Ram Gopal Verma, Mohanlal is brimming with new found joy.