Mohanlal Joins Prithviraj in Khalifa; Epic Two-Part Saga Announced

The makers of Khalifa have officially confirmed that Mohanlal is joining Prithviraj Sukumaran in the film, putting an end to recent speculation. Mohanlal plays Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, grandfather to Prithviraj’s character Aamir Ali. The duo has previously collaborated in Lucifer, Bro Daddy, and the upcoming L2: Empuraan.

In a major announcement, the team revealed that Khalifa will be released in two parts, with Mohanlal appearing in both installments. Part 1 features him in a cameo alongside Prithviraj, while Part 2 will shift focus to Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali’s violent past. “Meet the legend in Part 1 and learn his bloody history in Part 2,” the makers wrote. Part 1 is slated for an Onam 2026 theatrical release.

The teaser introduced Aamir Ali as a notorious gold smuggler carrying forward his grandfather’s legacy. Indrans’ character Hamsa, during interrogation, references how Indira Gandhi introduced COFEPOSA in the 1970s to curb the rise of real-life smugglers like Haji Mastan and Mudhaliyar — and the fictional Mambaraykkal Ahmed Ali.

Directed by Vysakh, Khalifa is written by Jinu Abraham and produced by Jinu and Suraj Kumar. The film boasts a strong technical lineup including Jomon T John (cinematography), Jakes Bejoy (music), Yannick Ben (action), and Chaman Chakko (editing).