It's official! Fahadh Faasil to star in Jeethu Joseph's next

Malayalam filmmaker Jeethu Joseph, known for his global hit "Drishyam," officially confirmed on Thursday his upcoming project with actor Fahadh Faasil. While he will helm the project, the film's screenplay is penned by Santhi Mayadevi. The untitled project will be bankrolled by E4 Entertainment.

This is one of the most awaited director-actor combinations in the Malayalam film industry. The upcoming project will mark the maiden collaboration between Jeethu and Fahadh.

Jeethu has carved a niche for himself as a director with a unique edge in making procedural thrillers. His popularity soared following the massive success of "Drishyam" in 2013. Starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead role, the film revolves around a father's efforts to hide a dead body to protect his family from legal consequences. The film struck gold at the box office by becoming the first-ever Malayalam film to earn Rs 50 crore in ticket sales.

"Drishyam" also inspired remakes in all major Indian languages and resonated with diverse audiences. It was also remade in Chinese as "Sheep Without a Shepherd" in 2019 and became a huge box-office hit in China. There are also efforts to remake the film in Hollywood.

Jeethu recently scored a big hit with "Neru." Starring Mohanlal in the lead, the film narrated a blind girl's struggle to prosecute her rapist in the court of law. It was released in cinemas last year and became a huge critical and commercial hit. Santhi Mayadevi also played a key role in the movie.

In the meantime, Fahadh Faasil is basking in the success of "Aavesham." Written and directed by Jithu Madhavan, the film emerged as one of Malayalam cinema's all-time hits. In the film, Fahadh essayed the role of an eccentric gangster longing for meaningful relationships in life. The film garnered positive reviews and earned about Rs 150 crore in global ticket sales.