The shoot for the Malayalam action thriller ‘Khalifa’, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead, is now complete. The film is directed by Vysakh and is all set to hit theatres on August 20 as a big Onam release. The wrap marks the end of a production schedule that spanned multiple countries over several months.
It’s a WRAP on #KHALIFA !
Aamir Ali will follow Rajeevan..The smuggler will meet you after the nobody!
KHALIFA Part 1. In theatres worldwide from 20th August 2026! pic.twitter.com/aBFj9GgEtg— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) June 22, 2026
What the film is about
‘Khalifa’ revolves around the world of gold smuggling. Prithviraj plays the character of Maamparakkal Aamir Ali. The film’s tagline reads: “Revenge will be written in golden letters.” The story follows a man who becomes entangled in a complex world of revenge, heritage, and influence amid gold smuggling operations.
The film is positioned as a big-budget pan-Indian mass entertainer. The screenplay emphasises high-stakes action and power struggles, with the story set up as a multi-generational saga of empire-building and retribution.
Locations and production journey
Principal photography for ‘Khalifa’ commenced on August 6, 2025, in London, focusing on international sequences that feature intense smuggling chases and action set pieces. The film has been shot across locations in London, Dubai, Kerala, and Nepal.
Prithviraj Sukumaran completed shooting for his portions in the UK schedule and returned to India in August last year. The Dubai schedule followed later, with the unit filming sequences in the desert. Director Vysakh documented part of that schedule on social media, noting the intense heat during outdoor shoots.
Even as the Dubai schedule was underway, the makers confirmed that dubbing for the film was already in full swing in Kochi.
The cast
Mohanlal is making a guest appearance in the film as Maamparakkal Ahmed Ali. Prithviraj’s character Aamir Ali is the grandson of Mohanlal’s character Ahmed Ali.
‘Khalifa’ is planned as a two-part film. Mohanlal will take over as the main lead in the second part, playing the full-fledged role of Maamparakkal Ahmed Ali.
The cast also includes Tovino Thomas, Krithi Shetty, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Indrans. This will be Neil Nitin Mukesh’s first time acting in a Malayalam film.