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Karan Johar announces first Malayalam film Odiyan with Prithviraj and Manju Warrier

Karan Johar enters Malayalam cinema with Odiyan, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier. The film will be directed by Rahul Sadasivan and marks Dharma Productions' regiona

By Surjosnata Chatterjee

Jun 16, 2026 14:56 IST

Filmmaker Karan Johar has announced his first foray into Malayalam cinema with Odiyan, a new film starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier. The project will be directed by filmmaker Rahul Sadasivan, known for his horror and folklore-inspired storytelling.

With the recent announcement of Odiyan, Karan Johar and his production house have entered the Malayalam film industry for the very first time. This has become one more point of collaboration between Karan Johar and his actor friend Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The production team behind this venture unveiled the news of the film via their social media handles on Monday, announcing the cast and crew of Odiyan. Karan Johar shared the announcement on Instagram and wrote, "We at Dharma Movies are taking our first step into the world of Malayalam cinema and I am proud to announce that we have the best partners to do it with."

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He further praised director Rahul Sadasivan for his distinctive storytelling style rooted in folklore and expressed confidence in the team bringing the project to life.

The film stars Manju Warrier alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, one of Malayalam cinema's biggest stars, whose collaborations with Dharma Productions have grown steadily over the years.

Malayalam cinema gets a new bollywood partnership

The announcement has generated significant buzz among film enthusiasts, particularly as it brings together a major Bollywood production house and some of Malayalam cinema's most celebrated names.



While the makers have not revealed plot details, the involvement of Rahul Sadasivan has sparked speculation that the film could draw inspiration from folklore and supernatural themes, genres the director has become known for.

Fans flooded social media with congratulatory messages following the announcement. Many described the collaboration as one of the most exciting Malayalam film projects currently in development.

Busy line-up for Prithviraj Sukumaran

The announcement was made at a time when Prithviraj Sukumaran is balancing numerous films in his pipeline.

Earlier, the producers of Khalifa, which stars both Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal, had announced that their film would be released on August 20, 2026, during the Onam festival season.

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In addition, Prithviraj Sukumaran is set to star alongside Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra in the film Varanasi. He revealed earlier that he had completed a significant shooting schedule for the movie scheduled to release in April 2027.

While Dharma Productions ventures into regional cinema with the film Odiyan, Malayalam cinema gets yet another blockbuster collaboration from the country's most successful production company.

FAQs

Q1. What is Odiyan?

Odiyan is an upcoming Malayalam film produced by Dharma Productions, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier, and directed by Rahul Sadasivan.

Q2. Is this Karan Johar's first Malayalam film?

Yes. Odiyan marks Dharma Productions' first venture into Malayalam cinema.

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