Mohanlal Set To Play Prithviraj’s Grandpa In This Film

Mohanlal, who’s already had a huge year with hits like L2 Empuraan, Thudarum, and Hridayapoorvam, surprised fans with a new update. He’s playing a grandfather on-screen, and not just any grandpa he’ll be the elder version of a character connected to Prithviraj Sukumaran. The twist makes it even more fun because Prithviraj has not only acted with him but also directed him before for the movie Lucifer, L2 Empuraan and Bro Daddy, and both share a great working bond.

Prithviraj is currently gearing up for Khalifa, whose teaser already made enough noise online. The film is set for an Onam 2026 release. Now the team has confirmed something bigger: Khalifa will have a prequel titled Khalifa Part 2: His Reign, and Mohanlal will lead that chapter. He’ll be playing Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, the grandfather of Prithviraj’s upcoming character, Mambarakkal Aamir Ali. Mohanlal even shared a poster showing only his bloody hand holding a cigar next to a gold ashtray and a retro revolver. Quite a tease.

For the first part, now titled Khalifa: The Intro, Mohanlal’s character will reportedly appear in a small cameo, and then carry his full story into the prequel. The films are directed by Vysakh, with scripts by Jinu V. Abraham. Music is by Jakes Bejoy, with visuals handled by Jomon T. John and editing by Chaman Chakko. The team has been slowly dropping hints since Prithviraj’s birthday earlier this year, calling Ahmed Ali the “godfather of a powerful lineage.”

Prithviraj, meanwhile, was last seen in Vilaayath Budha, which received mixed feedback. He’s now finishing I Nobody with Parvathy Thiruvothu, expected next summer, and later he’ll join SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu for Varanasi. Mohanlal, on his side, has Vrusshabha releasing in December 2025 and has already wrapped Drishyam 3. Both stars clearly have a packed schedule, and Khalifa just adds another exciting layer to it.