Hindi filmmaker and producer Karan Johar is set to back a Malayalam film for the first time as Dharma Productions joins hands with Prithviraj Productions for Odiyan: The Age of Illusion. Directed by Rahul Sadasivan, the film is being developed as a horror drama rooted in the folklore and cultural mythology of 19th-century Kerala.

The project marks Dharma Productions’ entry into Malayalam cinema and brings together production houses across industries for a story mounted on a culturally rich backdrop. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier in lead roles.

Prithviraj has emerged as one of the most active Pan-India actors from Malayalam cinema alongside Dulquer Salmaan, balancing films across languages while also building a strong production slate. The actor is currently part of Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli, while his Khalifa is being planned for an Onam release this year.

Directed by Rahul Sadasivan, known for his distinctive storytelling and genre-driven filmmaking, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion adds another ambitious project to his filmography. The film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Supriya Menon. 

With pre-production progressing, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is expected to go on floors later this year and is slated to arrive in cinemas at a later date. It is interesting to note that Dulquer Salmaan will appear as Odiyan in Lokah Universe and prior to it this character idea will be explored by this team. Also, Mohanlal's Odiyan did not work at the box office but that did not stop two next generation stars to explore the character on big screens in two distinctive ways. 

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