Girish AD Confirms Premalu 2 Was Dropped, but No Official Reason Has Been Given

Director Girish AD has publicly confirmed that Premalu 2 has been dropped, but no official reason has been given. He spoke at a success event in Kochi for Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a Bhavana Studios production, and described the decision as a major setback, Onmanorama reported on 19 October 2026. Premalu 2 was the planned sequel to the 2024 Malayalam hit Premalu and was expected to reunite Naslen and Mamitha Baiju, Pinkvilla reported on 20 October. No comment from Naslen or Mamitha Baiju on the shelving has been reported.

The story has moved in stages: a February report, an account citing a screenplay problem, and the director's public remarks in October. Each reason reported so far has come from reporting rather than from the makers.

The Shelving Was Reported in February

The Week reported on 3 February 2026 that Premalu 2 had allegedly been shelved. The report cited unnamed industry insiders close to the project and said the exact reason was unknown.

Premalu was released in 2024 and grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide, according to The Week. The report said pre-production reportedly began in the first half of 2025 and the film was meant to release at Christmas 2025. The shoot did not start that year, and a revised schedule had targeted a start in the first half of 2026.

The budget was said to be larger than the ₹8-10 crore budget of Premalu, and the report cites this and a longer pre-production phase as an initial reason for the delay. In mid-2025, Dileesh Pothan had cited technical reasons for the delay, the report said. It added that Girish AD was busy with Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, which it said was expected for Onam 2026.

The reports form a rough timeline: pre-production in the first half of 2025, a Christmas 2025 release target, a revised 2026 start, a shelving report in February 2026, and the director's remarks on 19 October.

What Girish AD Said at the Kochi Event

Girish AD told the gathering that the team had spent nearly a year on Premalu 2 before it was abandoned unexpectedly, Pinkvilla reported. Onmanorama quoted him as saying the team lost 'an entire year because of it.' Both reports say the film would have reached cinemas during Vishu last year, meaning Vishu 2025.

Gulte reported on 19 October that he expressed disappointment, said the team had wasted a year, and said the sequel had no need to be shelved. Onmanorama reported that he called the drop unexpected. According to Onmanorama, he said the sequel idea followed the success of Premalu, though he had wanted to make the Bethlehem film even earlier. In these reports, he has not given a reason for the decision.

The Reasons Reported So Far Remain Unconfirmed

Pinkvilla cited an Aakashavaani report that the makers shelved the film because they could not get the screenplay right. Pinkvilla also says the team appears to have moved on from the project.

Gulte also noted earlier rumours of creative differences between Girish AD and Naslen. Neither the rumours nor the screenplay account has been confirmed by the makers.

No official statement giving a reason has been reported. The screenplay account is attributed to a single report, from Aakashavaani.

Each reason reported so far has come from reporting rather than from the makers.

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit and the Bhavana Link

At the Kochi celebration, Girish AD credited Bhavana Studios and screenwriter Kiran Josey for standing by him during a difficult period, and for helping bring the film to screens sooner than expected, Onmanorama reported. He said the team never expected the film to become such a major hit, and he called its success a personal victory.

Onmanorama also reported that Bethlehem marks Nivin Pauly's comeback and reportedly became the fastest Malayalam film to cross ₹300 crore worldwide. The Week and Pinkvilla both name Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju as its stars. According to Pinkvilla, Girish AD said the team moved on to Bethlehem, which was completed in a relatively short period.

The Week said in February that it would be interesting to see whether Bhavana Studios would restructure its plans for the Premalu sequel. No revised plan for Premalu 2 has been reported since the director's remarks, and whether the sequel could be revived has not been reported either.