Malayalam cinema is set for a major new collaboration as superstar Mohanlal and acclaimed filmmaker Dileesh Pothan officially come together for the first time. The project was confirmed by the producer Antony Perumbavoor on May 17 and has already sparked excitement among fans, especially as the film is expected to move away from Pothan’s usual realistic dramas into a larger-scale action fantasy space.
Putting an end to years of speculation, Antony revealed on social media that the project is now officially moving forward. The film will be produced by Shibu Baby John and written by celebrated screenwriter Syam Pushkaran, with Aashirvad Cinemas also backing the venture.
Responding to a fan query online on ‘X’ spaces, Antony said, “We are doing a film produced by Shibu Baby John, and will be directed by Dileesh Pothan. It has been finalised.” He further added that the team is “actively trying to avoid projects that fans have no interest in watching” and promised that “good films are on the way.”
Antony also shared his concerns about not wanting to work with debutant directors, as one newcomer, who was supposed to do a project with Mohanlal, “panicked and didn’t attend calls” a month away from the shoot.
The collaboration with Dileesh Pothan is particularly significant because, in a 2023 interview with SCREEN, he had expressed his wish to work with both Mohanlal and Mammootty someday, even though no concrete plans existed at the time. That dream now appears to be finally taking shape.
Over the last decade, Pothan became one of the defining voices of contemporary Malayalam cinema. After starting as an actor in "Salt N' Pepper", he made his directorial debut with "Maheshinte Prathikaram" and later directed acclaimed films, including "Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum" and "Joji".
The announcement also came with another major update for fans of the Lucifer franchise. Antony Perumbavoor confirmed that a third instalment will indeed happen despite mixed responses to the second chapter. “Lucifer 3 is 100 per cent on the cards. We need a massive entertainer to recharge the box office, don’t we? It’s only when films of that scale arrive that the industry experiences a real buzz. We just need a small gap for things to align. Let the current situation settle down first,” added the producer.
Apart from this, Antony also shared that veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan’s 100th film starring Mohanlal is expected to begin shooting in December.
With major franchises and first-time collaborations lined up, Mohanlal appears to be exploring a wide mix of projects in the coming years.
