The crew behind the upcoming two-part movie Khalifa marked Neil Nitin Mukesh’s birthday with a shock that immediately lit up social media. On Thursday, the makers formally introduced that the actor is moving into Malayalam cinema with the venture, which stars Prithviraj Sukumaran within the lead. Sharing a personality poster of Neil from the movie, Prithviraj wished him on his birthday and welcomed him to the Malayalam {industry}, setting the tone for what’s clearly being positioned as a high-profile crossover.

A birthday announcement that crossed industries

Neil, in flip, expressed pleasure in making his Malayalam debut with Khalifa, thanking the crew for the chance. Whereas the specifics of his character are being saved underneath wraps, the actor added a cryptic line to the announcement submit, writing “Going for Gold!!!”. The poster options him in a hanging golden outfit, and mixed with the movie’s tagline, “Vengeance will probably be written in gold,” it hints at a personality deeply tied to the world of smuggling that types the spine of the story.

As reported earlier, Khalifa is directed by Vysakh from a screenplay by Jinu V Abraham. The venture additionally boasts a serious cameo by Mohanlal in its first half. His character, Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, is predicted to play a way more substantial function within the second half, which will even function Prithviraj, setting the stage for a multi-star narrative arc that unfolds throughout two movies.

Gold, vengeance and a reunion of blockbuster names

Khailfa casts Prithviraj as Aamir Ali, a gold smuggler who inherits the household commerce from his grandfather and carries the enterprise ahead into a much more harmful terrain. With the gold commerce positioned as each livelihood and curse, the movie is shaping up as a saga that blends crime, legacy and revenge.

 

The movie additionally marks a sequence of reunions that Malayalam cinema watchers will probably be keenly monitoring. It brings Prithviraj again along with Vysakh after their earlier collaboration on Pokkiriraja. For Mohanlal, it’s one other venture with the director after Pulimurugan and Monster. Author Jinu V Abraham, who can also be producing the movie together with Suraj Kumar, reunites with Prithviraj after Masters, London Bridge and Kaduva. Sijo Sebastian serves because the co-producer.

 

The technical lineup reinforces the size of the venture. Jomon T John is dealing with cinematography, Jakes Bejoy is composing the music, Chaman Chakko is answerable for modifying and motion director Yannick Ben will probably be choreographing the stunts. Collectively, they level to a slick, action-heavy expertise designed for the massive display screen.

 

The primary a part of Khalifa is slated for launch throughout Onam 2026, positioning it firmly within the festive blockbuster race. With the second half already deliberate, the makers look like constructing a franchise somewhat than a standalone movie, one that can span a number of timelines and character arcs.

For Neil Nitin Mukesh, the Malayalam debut comes at a second when cross-industry casting has grow to be greater than a novelty. As stars more and more transfer between Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies, Khalifa provides one other notable identify to that listing, promising an intriguing mix of sensibilities.

With gold, vengeance and legacy at its core, Khalifa is shaping up as a spectacle pushed as a lot by star energy as by scale. And with Prithviraj, Mohanlal and now Neil Nitin Mukesh within the combine, the movie has all of the elements to grow to be one of the talked-about tasks on the Malayalam horizon.

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