Malaikottai Vaaliban: After Danish Sait, Sonalee Kulkarni to debut in Malayalam with Mohanlal-starrer

It seems like director Lijo Jose Pellissery is assembling the best in every industry for his upcoming and highly-anticipated movie with Mohanlal, Malaikottai Vaaliban. After roping in Kannada actor and comedian Danish Sait, the filmmaker has now cast Marathi actress Sonalee Kulkarni in a pivotal role in the big-budget movie.

Malaikottai Vaaliban marks the Malayalam debut for both Danish and Sonalee. The actress, who had previously starred in films such as Natarang, Ajintha, Vicky Velingkar and director VK Prakash’s Marathi remake of the Malayalam movie Shutter, had also worked in two Bollywood films – Grand Masti and Singham Returns.

Sonalee took to her Twitter page to announce her signing the film. “My new year is truly promising as I get to work in the genius Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Malayalam film Malaikottai Vaaliban with the legendary Mohanlal sir,” she wrote.

The movie is expected to kick off this month in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Apart from Danish and Sonalee, the team is also rumoured to be in talks with Radhika Apte, Rajpal Yadav and Vidyut Jammwal, who is expected to essay the role of the antagonist in the film, scripted by PS Rafique. Madhu Neelakandan will be cranking the camera for the movie that has Prashant Pillai as its composer and Tinu Pappachan as its chief associate director.

In an earlier chat with the media, Prithviraj Sukumaran, who will be helming Mohanlal’s Empuraan later this year, said that he was apprised of the story of Malaikottai Vaaliban. “It’s a big film and a very challenging movie to make,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are also rumours that Mohanlal has signed another film with Tinu later this year. An announcement of the upcoming project is expected to be out on January 5. Mohanlal recently wrapped up the Morocco and Tunisia portions of Jeethu Joseph’s Ram duology. The team is expected to shoot in Israel and a few sequences in New Delhi later this year.