Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Prithviraj Calls Mohanlal Brother, Mammootty Father Figure In Khalifa Discussion
Prithviraj Sukumaran spoke about his close relationships with actors Mohanlal and Mammootty.
He said Mohanlal feels like an older brother to him.
He described Mammootty as a father figure.
Their families have known one another since Prithviraj was a child.
Prithviraj has directed Mohanlal in Lucifer, L2: Empuraan and Bro Daddy.
In Khalifa, Mohanlal plays a famous smuggler named Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali.
He appears in one scene near the end of the movie.
The announced sequel, Khalifa 2: The Legacy, is expected to make Ahmed Ali the main character.
Prithviraj Sukumaran described Mohanlal as an elder brother and Mammootty as a father figure.
Prithviraj said his family’s longstanding relationship with both actors began through his parents, Sukumaran and Mallika Sukumaran.
Mohanlal appears near the end of Khalifa as smuggler Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, the grandfather of Prithviraj’s character.
Khalifa 2: The Legacy will reportedly feature Mohanlal’s Ahmed Ali as the protagonist alongside Prithviraj.
Mohanlal said he was grateful to Prithviraj, director Vysakh and writer Jinu V. Abraham for giving him the role.
- Who
- Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran, actor Mohanlal, actor Mammootty, director Vysakh and writer Jinu V. Abraham.
- What
- Prithviraj discussed his relationships with Mohanlal and Mammootty and the planned Khalifa sequel featuring Mohanlal.
- When
- The comments were made recently during an appearance on Jio Hotstar’s Khalifayude Onavirunnu talk show; no exact date was specified.
- Why
- Prithviraj said Mohanlal was chosen for Ahmed Ali because the character and his legacy form the foundation of the Khalifa story.
- Film discussed
- Khalifa
- Mohanlal’s character
- Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, described as a notorious smuggler and the grandfather of Prithviraj’s character, Aamir Ali.
- Cameo placement
- Mohanlal appears in one scene toward the end of Khalifa.
- Planned sequel
- Khalifa 2: The Legacy
- Sequel focus
- Mohanlal’s Ahmed Ali is planned as the protagonist alongside Prithviraj.
- Prithviraj’s directing credits with Mohanlal
- Lucifer (2019), Bro Daddy (2022) and L2: Empuraan (2025).
- Screenplay timeline
- Prithviraj said the screenplay was expanded in 2022.