Khalifa trailer: Prithviraj promises gold, gangsters and a bloody fight for power

The trailer of Prithviraj Sukumaran's Khalifa is finally out, giving audiences their first extended look at the action thriller's sprawling world of gold smuggling, organised crime and revenge. The 2-minute-32-second trailer has already crossed one million views on YouTube within hours of its release, adding to the anticipation around the film ahead of its Onam release.The trailer introduces Prithviraj as Aamir Ali, a man who finds himself drawn into a powerful gold-smuggling network with links extending beyond Kerala. What begins as his involvement in the criminal world soon appears to develop into a larger battle involving power, survival and revenge.The footage is packed with shoot-outs, hand-to-hand combat, confrontations and large-scale action sequences, while also hinting at the international reach of the criminal empire at the centre of the story.Directed by Vysakh, Khalifa is being mounted as a two-part theatrical saga, with the first chapter titled Khalifa: The Intro and the second titled Khalifa: His Reign. The first instalment is scheduled to release on August 20 during the Onam season. Based on the trailer, The Intro appears to focus on establishing Aamir Ali, his world and the forces surrounding him, while leaving the larger conflict to unfold in the second chapter. Mohanlal's presence is another major talking point. He plays Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, a character connected to Aamir's family legacy. Although the trailer offers glimpses of the veteran actor, it keeps much of his character and his connection to Aamir under wraps. Recent reports suggest that the first instalment will primarily introduce Ahmed Ali, potentially setting up a larger role for him in Khalifa: His Reign.The film also marks the reunion of Prithviraj and Vysakh after 15 years. The two previously worked together on Pokkiri Raja, which marked Vysakh's directorial debut. The filmmaker has now reunited with writer Jinu V Abraham, who is also producing the film alongside Suraj Kumar. Khalifa continues Vysakh's association with large-scale action cinema following films such as Pokkiri Raja and Pulimurugan. Neil Nitin Mukesh will be seen in a prominent role in the film, while the ensemble cast features Tovino Thomas, Krithi Shetty and Indrans. Jomon T John serves as cinematographer, Chaman Chacko handles the editing and Jakes Bejoy has composed the music. The film has also been shot across multiple international locations, reflecting the wider criminal world shown in the trailer. Khalifa arrives at a busy point in Prithviraj's career. The actor was recently seen in Nisam Basheer's I, Nobody, alongside Parvathy Thiruvothu. He will next appear in SS Rajamouli's Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, with Prithviraj playing Kumbha. Before that, Khalifa: The Intro will arrive in theatres on August 20, setting the stage for the second chapter of Aamir Ali's story.- EndsPublished By: T Naga Maruthi AcharyaPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 16:41 IST