E-Paper
Neil Nitin Mukesh to make his debut in Malayalam cinema with mob thriller Khalifa; first look revealed
On Neil Nitin Mukesh's 44th birthday, the actor shares a glimpse of his Malayalam debut in director Vysakh’s eagerly awaited Khalifa
If there’s one man who hasn’t aged a day, it’s Neil Nitin Mukesh. The Bollywood star is celebrating his 44th birthday today with a career-defining surprise. While he has conquered Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu screens, he is finally making his first foray into Malayalam cinema.
The big announcement dropped today. The makers of director Vysakh’s eagerly awaited revenge thriller Khalifa officially welcomed Neil Nitin Mukesh to the industry. Leading man Prithviraj Sukumaran shared the news on Instagram with a warm birthday wish: “Happy birthday, Neil Nitin Mukesh! Welcome to the Malayalam film industry! #KHALIFA”
Neil also shared the news on his social media accounts with the caption: “Going for Gold !!! ✨⭐️💫 Proud to announce my first film in the Malayalam film industry! #KHALIFA.”
About Khalifa
In Khalifa, Prithviraj plays a character called Aamir Ali. During his last birthday, the actor shared a glimpse of the film that set expectations sky-high. He teased the plot, stating: “A revenge forged by a lineage that spans generations! Next onam.. Aamir Ali will write his vengeance in gold! #KHALIFA – The Ruler.”
The plot revolves around a massive multi-million dollar gold smuggling racket operating out of the Middle East, with networks stretching from London and Nepal to Kerala. The film's first glimpse video features an intense interrogation between a customs official named Panicker and an elderly man. Panicker attempts to intimidate the man by citing the COFEPOSA Act, claiming Aamir Ali is finished, but the man’s response is a masterclass in tension. Take a look:
Directed by Vysakh, Khalifa marks his reunion with Prithviraj after 15 years, following their superhit Pokkiri Raja (2010). The film, written by Jinu V Abraham, features edge-of-the-seat chase sequences recently filmed in the UK.
Though initially announced in 2022, the project officially went on floors in 2025. With its grand scale and Neil Nitin Mukesh's addition to the cast, Khalifa is set to be a major Onam 2026 spectacle.
