Khalifa is a Malayalam action-crime-thriller starring Prithviraj Sukumaran as Aamir Ali opposite Mohanlal as Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali. Billed as “Khalifa: Part 1 – The Intro,” it is the first installment of a two-part series, with “Khalifa: Part 2 – His Reign” slated for 2027. The film was released as the season’s sole Onam offering after Dulquer Salmaan’s I’m Game postponed its clash to September.
Corrected — Day 5 is ₹1.21 crore. The cumulative total after Day 6 is therefore ₹14.48 crore.
| Day | Collection |
|---|---|
| 1Day 1 (1st Thursday) | ₹5.25 Cr |
| 2Day 2 (1st Friday) | ₹3.20 Cr |
| 3Day 3 (1st Saturday) | ₹1.55 Cr |
| 4Day 4 (1st Sunday) | ₹1.85 Cr |
| 5Day 5 (1st Monday) | ₹1.21 Cr |
| 6Day 6 (1st Tuesday) | ₹1.46 Cr |
| Total Collection | ₹14.52 Cr |
Khalifa recorded approximately ₹1.46 crore net on Day 6, taking its total India net collection to around ₹14.48 crore after six days. The film witnessed a strong improvement on Tuesday compared with its first Monday collection.
With ₹14.48 crore collected in six days against a reported ₹50 crore budget, Khalifa has recovered approximately 29.0% of its reported budget based on India net collections.
Budget & Recovery
Khalifa has been made on a reported budget of around ₹50 crore. With its India net collection currently at approximately ₹14.48 crore, the film has recovered around 29.0% of its reported budget.
The film will need to maintain its weekday momentum and deliver stronger collections over the coming days to move closer to the ₹50 crore recovery benchmark.
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Plot Overview
Khalifa follows Aamir Ali, a man whose ordinary life becomes entangled with a multi-million-dollar gold-smuggling empire inherited through a lineage of gangsters, with operations spanning the Middle East and India. As power struggles and family conflicts intensify, the story sets up events for its confirmed sequel.
Cast & Crew
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Prithviraj Sukumaran | Aamir Ali |
| Mohanlal | Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali (cameo) |
| Indrans | Supporting cast |
| Neil Nitin Mukesh | Supporting cast (Malayalam debut) |
| Rajisha Vijayan | Supporting cast |
| Krithi Shetty | Supporting cast |
| Malvika Sharma | Supporting cast |
| Ranjith Velayudhan | Supporting cast |
| Sanju Sivaram | Supporting cast |
| Shammi Thilakan | Supporting cast |
Prithviraj Sukumaran as Aamir Ali — Prithviraj leads as a man whose loyalties and relationships are tested as long-buried conflicts and secrets surface. He has said the film is driven more by family drama than pure action, despite its marketing.
Mohanlal’s Cameo — Mohanlal’s closely guarded cameo as Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali has been one of the film’s biggest talking points, drawing a mixed but notable reaction, with several viewers on social media singling it out as a highlight of the film.
Direction & Music
Vysakh directs Khalifa, working from a script by Jinu Abraham. The film features 27 credited visual effects contributors and 8 stunt personnel, reflecting its scale, and released across Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu versions.
Critical & Audience Reception
Khalifa has drawn a divided response:
- Some viewers dismissed it as a formulaic mass entertainer, with criticism aimed at how key elevation moments were staged
- Others called it a “sureshot Onam winner” and praised its climax
- A section of reviews drew comparisons between the film’s tail-end and the Bollywood film Animal
- Audience reaction was described as sharply split, with a portion of viewers calling the film disappointing despite the buzz around its cameos
Conclusion
Khalifa opened to ₹4.76 crore net on Day 1 — a solid but not chart-topping start that fell short of pre-release predictions and Prithviraj’s own Aadujeevitham benchmark. With mixed reviews and a divided audience response, the film’s Onam-weekend trajectory and the pull of Mohanlal’s cameo will determine whether it can build momentum through the holiday period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What was the Day 1 collection of Khalifa?
Khalifa collected ₹4.76 crore net in India on Day 1, across 1,900+ shows.
2. Who is the director of Khalifa?
Khalifa is directed by Vysakh.
3. What is the story of Khalifa about?
Khalifa follows Aamir Ali, a man connected to a multi-million-dollar gold-smuggling empire who gets entangled in its power struggles, with the story spanning the Middle East and India.
4. Who is in the cast of Khalifa?
The cast includes Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mohanlal, Indrans, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Rajisha Vijayan, Krithi Shetty, Malvika Sharma, Ranjith Velayudhan, Sanju Sivaram, and Shammi Thilakan.
5. When was Khalifa released?
Khalifa was released on August 20, 2026.