Girish AD has opened up about the shelving of Premalu 2, saying that the team spent nearly a year developing the sequel before it was eventually dropped. The director, who recently celebrated the success of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, shared his ‘frustration’ that the decision was a setback and that the time spent working on the follow-up could have been avoided. The filmmaker also spoke how the abandoned project led him to think about idea, which eventually became the Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju-starrer. The film has since emerged as a box-office success earning over Rs 300 crore.
Girish AD Says Premalu 2 Shelving Cost The Team A Year
revealed that the team had spent nearly a year working on Premalu 2 before the film was unexpectedly shelved. Speaking at the success celebration of , the director said “We wasted an entire year on the sequel. A year’s worth of work has gone in vain. We had to abandon it unexpectedly, and that affected us greatly. We ended up losing a year, and there was no real need for us to invest that much time.” Girish said.
The original Premalu, released in February 2024, became a commercial success, with audiences praising to its humour and the chemistry between Naslen and . The film’s success led to plans for a sequel, with Girish and co-writer Kiran Josey developing the story.
Naslen and Mamitha Baiju in Premalu
Premalu 2 was expected to arrive during the Vishu 2026 season. However, producer Dileesh Pothan confirmed in April 2026 that the project had been shelved. Girish had previously said that he could not convince himself about the sequel’s story due to his ‘gut’ feeling despite several discussions with his team.
How Bethlehem Kudumba Unit Became A Major Hit
Following the setback, Girish returned to an idea he had wanted to explore even before Premalu became a hit. That project eventually took shape as Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a standalone romantic comedy starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju. The film reunited Girish with key members of his regular team, including co-writer Kiran Josey, cinematographer Ajmal Sabu, editor Akash Joseph Varghese and composer Vishnu Vijay. Released on August 21 during the Onam season, it went on to become a box-office success.
The director also mentioned that he had not anticipated the film’s extraordinary response. “Even then, we never expected it to become such a huge success or an industry hit. I see this as a personal victory. I am thankful to everyone who stood by us,” he said.