Prithviraj Sukumaran is gearing up for the release of Khalifa, directed by Vysakh. The film is set to hit theatres on August 20, Thursday. Ahead of its release, the makers of the film revealed that it has received a UA 16+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification. With the censorship clearance, the film has taken one step further towards releasing on its scheduled date.

Khalifa is written by Jinu V Abraham, who has directed Prithviraj's Adam Joan (2017) and produced his 2022 film Kaapa. The film follows a gold smugger named Aamir Ali (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and his expansive business. It also stars Malvika Sharma in the female lead, Mohanlal in a cameo role as Aamir's grandfather Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, Indrans, Shivajith, Shine Varghese, Shammi Thilakan, Kyraa, Mohini, and Master Nafash, among others.

Khalifa marks back-to-back films for Prithviraj this year; recently, his film I'm Game hit theatres. It brings Prithviraj back together with director Vysakh for the first time after 2010's Pokkiri Raja, which marked the latter's directorial debut. On the technical front, the film has composer Jakes Bejoy, editor Chaman Chakko, cinematographer Jomon T John, and stunt director Yannick Ben, among others.

Khalifa is one of the two big Onam releases in Malayalam this year, the other being Nivin Pauly and Girish AD's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Also starring Mamitha Baiju and Sangeeth Prathap, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is set to hit theatres on August 21, Friday. Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game was also slated for an Onam release initially, but it moved out of the festival lineup.

Coming back to Khalifa, the film is expected to have a follow-up, which will serve as its prequel, with Mohanlal playing a full-length role as Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali.