Neil Nitin Mukesh is set to make his Malayalam cinema debut with the upcoming mob thriller Khalifa. The first look of the film was unveiled recently, marking the New York actor’s entry into Mollywood.
On Thursday, the makers officially announced that the actor is stepping into Malayalam cinema with the project, which stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. Sharing a character poster of Neil from the film, Prithviraj wished him on his birthday and welcomed him to the Malayalam industry, setting the tone for what is clearly being positioned as a high-profile crossover.
Neil, in turn, expressed pride in making his Malayalam debut with Khalifa, thanking the team for the opportunity. While the specifics of his character are being kept under wraps, the actor added a cryptic line to the announcement post, writing “Going for Gold!!!”. The poster features him in a striking golden outfit, and combined with the film’s tagline, “Vengeance will be written in gold,” it hints at a character deeply tied to the world of smuggling that forms the backbone of the story.
Khalifa is directed by Vysakh from a screenplay by Jinu V Abraham. The project also boasts a major cameo by Mohanlal in its first part. His character, Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, is expected to play a much more substantial role in the second part, which will also feature Prithviraj, setting the stage for a multi-star narrative arc that unfolds across two films.
The first part of Khalifa is slated for release during Onam 2026, positioning it firmly in the festive blockbuster race. With the second part already planned, the makers appear to be building a franchise rather than a standalone film, one that will span multiple timelines and character arcs.
