Khalifa Part 1: The Intro, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, is slated for release in theaters during Onam 2026. As it was recently confirmed that Mohanlal will play a cameo role in the film, it appears that the actor has already completed his portion of the shoot.

Did Mohanlal complete shoot for Khalifa Part 1?

According to a report by Cine Loco, Mohanlal shot for his cameo role in Khalifa Part 1 on January 13, 2026. The one-day shoot reportedly took place in Kochi and is said to serve as the introduction of his character, Mambarakal Ahmed Ali. However, this remains an unconfirmed report, with official confirmation yet to be made.

In an earlier post, Mohanlal shared the announcement along with a new poster from the film. While his face was concealed, the image featured a shot of his bloodied hand holding a cigar beside a gold ashtray and a retro revolver.

With the first instalment, Khalifa Part 1: The Intro, the film features Mohanlal as the grandfather of Prithviraj’s character. The cameo appearance is touted to be a brief glimpse, serving as an introduction to Khalifa Part 2: His Reign.

Earlier this year, on Prithviraj’s birthday, the makers of Khalifa teased the role, establishing the godfather of a powerful lineage in the storyline.

Directed by Vysakh, both films are based on screenplays written by Jinu V. Abraham, who also serves as the co-producer. The first instalment features music and background score composed by Jakes Bejoy, with Jomon T. John as the cinematographer and Chaman Chakko as the editor.

Mohanlal’s work front

Mohanlal will next appear in a lead role in Drishyam 3, directed by Jeethu Joseph. The film marks the third instalment in the franchise and aims to delve deeper into the emotional dynamics of the family. While an official release date is yet to be announced, the director recently confirmed that Drishyam 3 is set to hit the big screens on April 2, 2026.

Following this, the actor is set to begin shooting for the tentatively titled L365, a cop action-comedy directed by Tharun Moorthy.

Zoe Saldaña is making the bag! The 47-year-old has just surpassed Scarlett Johansson to become the highest-grossing actor of all time with her latest portrayal in Avatar: Fire and Ash. As per a Variety report, she has earned the crown thanks to her involvement in big projects like the Avatar series as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress took to her Instagram account to share her gratitude to fans as well as the filmmakers who have made this possible.

Zoe Saldaña is minting away, becoming highest grosser of all time

According to The Numbers, the movies having Zoe Saldaña in a lead role have collectively grossed approximately 15.47 billion USD worldwide. This gives her the edge over Scarlett Johansson, whose box office presence has garnered 15.40 billion USD instead. This was able to happen thanks to the success of James Cameron‘s latest sci-fi film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which has currently grossed more than 1.23 billion USD so far after premiering in late December. 

Her portrayal of Neytiri began back in 2009 when she played the character for the first time. The original Avatar film remains the most successful movie ever at the box office, having earned a whopping 2.9 billion USD. It is followed by the 2019-released Avengers: Endgame at No. 2. Meanwhile, the 2022 sequel to Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, comes in at the 3rd place. Zoe Saldaña has appeared in an impressive four films that have grossed over 2 billion USD, with the previous top 3 followed by 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.

Back in 2024, she was third on the list, only after the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, fellow MCU stars and major Hollywood stars. In a new video, she thanked multiple directors “for believing my potential for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself, and for challenging me to always rise to the occasion. Your faith, your guidance and your vision, they shape not only these films, but me as an artist.”