Mohanlal, Randeep Hooda in Odiyan director VA Shrikumar Menon’s Bollywood film Mission Konkan?

Almost a year after Odiyan director VA Shrikumar announced his big budget, pan-Indian Bollywood film Mission Konkan, reports have surfaced that Mohanlal will be playing its lead with Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda also essaying a pivotal role. 

According to a report in Kerala Kaumudi, the film, which will be a Bollywood production, is set to go on floors in September, after Mohanlal completes his portions in Bro Daddy and Jeethu Joseph’s 12th Man. The superstar is reportedly set to join the shoot of the Shrikumar Menon directorial in September second week. 

When OTTplay got in touch with Shrikumar Menon, he said that the film is yet to be officially announced. "There's still a lot of casting details to be finalised," said the filmmaker, adding that the casting of Mohanlal and Randeep Hooda is not yet confirmed. The director had earlier confirmed that the movie will revolve around Mappila Khalasis, who are skilled makers of the traditional uru vessels in the Malabar region. The film is set against the backdrop of the development of Konkan railways and how the Khalasis were elemental to this. 

Mohanlal, who had taken a break from Bro Daddy’s shoot in Hyderabad, to travel to Dubai to receive the UAE’s Golden Visa will complete his portion for the Prithviraj directorial and join Jeethu Joseph’s 12th Man in Idukki in the first week of September.

Mission Konkan, which is scripted by TD Ramakrishnan, will be released in all South languages apart from Hindi. It also marks Mohanlal’s second collaboration with Shrikumar Menon after Odiyan. Ramakrishnan, who had worked with the Southern Railways, had also wrote best-selling novels such as Francis Ittykora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki.

The actor’s next big budget release, Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, has him playing Kunjali Marakkar IV, who is widely known as India’s first naval commander. The actor has also finished shooting for B Unnikrishnan’s Aaraattu. Both movies have been aiming at a theatrical release.