Never thought I would do it: Prithviraj picks film over 'Lucifer'

Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran, who made his directorial debut with the blockbuster Lucifer, has opened up about stepping outside his comfort zone with his second directorial venture, Bro Daddy. In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Prithviraj discussed how Bro Daddy marked a significant departure from the intense, action-packed world of Lucifer, signalling a new direction in his filmmaking career.

Released in 2019, Lucifer marked the grand return of Mohanlal to Malayalam cinema, with his portrayal of the multi-layered character Qureshi Abram receiving widespread acclaim. The film became a massive success both at the box office and among critics, and its success led to the announcement of a sequel, Empuraan.

However, before diving into the larger-than-life world of Empuraan, Prithviraj chose to direct Bro Daddy, a feel-good family drama featuring Mohanlal, which premiered on OTT platforms in 2022. The film was met with widespread praise for its warmth, humour, and refreshing tone.

Despite the monumental success of Lucifer, Prithviraj has revealed that, as a director, Bro Daddy holds a special place in his heart. In his candid comments, he said, "While Lucifer is a very special film to me, as a director, I have to say that I prefer Bro Daddy. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. The way the film was shot, and how the comedy was handled, was very different for me."

He continued, "If I had to choose between the two films, I would choose Bro Daddy without hesitation. It’s a film I never thought I would make, and that’s what makes it so unique for me."

Meanwhile, Prithviraj's most ambitious project to date, Empuraan—the highly anticipated sequel to Lucifer—is one of the most expensive Malayalam films ever made. The film's release date was officially announced on November 1, coinciding with Kerala Piravi, through a striking new poster shared by both Mohanlal and Prithviraj on social media. The poster, featuring a mysterious figure dressed in white and adorned with a red Chinese dragon, has sparked intense curiosity among fans regarding the character's identity.

The wait is coming to an end...

Empuraan is scheduled to release in theatres worldwide on March 27, 2025, and will be available in multiple languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Fans are already buzzing with excitement, sharing their enthusiasm in the comment sections of the social media posts.

The film will reunite Mohanlal and Prithviraj with a stellar supporting cast, including Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Saniya Iyappan, Arjun Das, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar. Empuraan is backed by Lyca Productions, known for their successful films, and is a collaborative project with Aashirvad Cinemas. The screenplay is once again penned by Murali Gopy, who also wrote the script for Lucifer.

With Empuraan shaping up to be a massive spectacle, fans are eagerly awaiting its release, anticipating a film that promises to push the boundaries of Malayalam cinema once again. (With inputs from Agencies)