Chennai: The makers of director Vysakh’s eagerly awaited revenge thriller ‘Chalifa’ on Thursday welcomed Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh to the Malayalam film industry.
Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who plays the lead role in the entertaining thriller based on gold smuggling, welcomed the Bollywood actor to the Malayalam film industry on his birthday.
He wrote on his Instagram page, “Happy Birthday Neil Nitin Mukesh! Welcome to the Malayalam film industry! #KHALIFA”
Happy Birthday Neil Nitin Mukesh! Welcome to Malayalam film industry! #caliph
@PrithviOfficial@NeilNMukesh #Vaisakh#जिनुवभ्रहम् @jakes_bejoy #surajkumar #chamanchako#jomontyjohn @apifilms @homescreenent @SonyMusicSouth @poffactio pic.twitter.com/ViljcUQUN1– Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) 15 January 2026
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For those unaware, Prithviraj plays a character named Aamir Ali in the film. It can be recalled that the actor had shared a glimpse video of Khalifa during his last birthday.
He had said, “Revenge taken by a dynasty that spans generations! Next Onam.. Aamir Ali will write his vengeance in gold! #KHALIFA – Ruler.”
The glimpse of Khalifa he shared begins with the sound of a news bulletin announcing that police and customs officials have busted a multi-million dollar gold smuggling racket operating from the Middle East. We are told that this racket is being run through networks in London, Nepal and Kerala.
We then see an old man being interrogated by a customs officer named Panikkar, who tells the man being interrogated that his colleague Aamir is finished and could be sent to jail wherever he sets foot in India. Panikkar tries to intimidate the person being interrogated by citing the COFEPOSA Act.
The glimpse video shows the person being questioned replying, “Do you know how COFEPOSA came into existence?” We are then treated to some spectacular action sequences, of which Prithviraj is a part. The person being interrogated explains how the COFEPOSA Act came into existence. “On the North side, there were Sukkur Naren Bakhiya and Haji Mastan. On the South side, it was Mudaliar and Mambarayakkal Ahmed Ali. All four were a nightmare for Mrs Gandhi. That is why she passed the COFEPOSA Act in Parliament in 1974. And yet, using COFEPOSA, she could not keep Ahmed Ali behind bars even for half an hour. Aamir is the grandson of the same Ahmed Ali.” He then challenges the officer to catch Aamir and says that only then will he see the real fireworks like the Urus festival at Mambaram Mosque.
The video reveals that Prithviraj Sukumaran plays a character named Aamir Ali and the film will be an entertaining thriller with some exciting chase and stunt sequences.
It can be recalled that actor Prithviraj Sukumaran had completed shooting his portion in the UK-schedule of the film and returned to India in August last year.
The film has generated huge interest among fans and film lovers since it was first announced. At the time of launching the project, Vysakh had said in a post on his Instagram timeline, “The journey of #Caliphate officially begins! Our pooja ceremony for this ambitious film starring the incredible @therealprithvi happened today. I’m so thrilled to be collaborating with Prithviraj after 15 long years!”
He then added, “Getting ready for an exciting journey, our first schedule starts from London on 6th August. This project brings together a powerhouse team – written by Jinu Abraham, visual magic by Jomon T John, music by current music sensation Jake Bejoy, cuts by Chaman Chacko, styling by Mashar Hamza and action directed by Yannick Ben. All your blessings and best wishes for this venture.”
It can be recalled that the film was first announced for the year 2022. However, it will hit the floors only in 2025. When the film was initially announced, it was expected to be shot in Dubai, Nepal and Kerala. Now, the film has been shot in the UK.
This is Prithviraj’s second film in 15 years with Vaishakh after their superhit collaboration ‘Pokkiri Raja’ and will be his next with writer Jinu V Abraham, who wrote the script of ‘Kaduva’.