2-year search for perfect location: Prithviraj Sukumaran on overcoming challenges in L2: Empuraan

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 21 (ANI): The highly anticipated film L2: Empuraan will be released on March 27, and director Prithviraj Sukumaran has opened up about the challenges faced during its production.
The film, starring Mohanlal, was shot in multiple international locations, including Turkey, France, London, Yemen, Senegal, Iraq, and China.
The film's trailer was released on Thursday. Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that finding the ideal locations for shooting was the biggest challenge.
The 'Salaar' actor revealed that it took him two years to travel around the world to find the ideal locations for shooting the film.
While speaking to ANI, he said, "The biggest challenge was that this is a film shot in real locations. So, it took me almost two years to travel around the world and find locations where I could shoot the film. That was a long process."
The director also spoke about the logistical challenges of moving a large unit between cities and countries.
He continued, "And then actually after having found those locations, to be travelling around the world with such a big unit, the logistical challenges of moving with such a big unit between cities within countries, all that I think was the biggest challenge."
Prithviraj Sukumaran praised his production team, including producer Antony Perumbavoor, line producers Suresh Balaje and George Pius, creative director Nirmal Sahadev, and associate director Vava.
"But full marks to my wonderful production team, my producer Antony Perumbavoor, my line producers Suresh Balaje and George Pius, my creative director Nirmal Sahadev, and my associate director Vava. For me, from a director's perspective, it was just a very smooth process. It was like the whole film moved like a well-oiled piece of machinery. But I'm sure underneath, these guys must have been working 24-7 for that to happen." said Prithviraj while talking to ANI.
Superstar Mohanlal also stressed the advantages of a pan-Indian film like L2: Empuraan, saying that it increases the chances of the movie's success as it has more screens and diverse viewers.
While speaking with ANI, he said, "As Prithviraj said, for a Malayalam film, this is a huge film, budget-wise. And we have the preparation of two years. But we have done films like this, definitely."
He continued, "But the possibility of such films is bigger now, to come out with a film. And if it's a success, it will be a big success. Because now, we call this a pan-Indian film. We have Tamil and Telugu, with bigger options. Before that, we didn't have that kind of options. But in Empuraan, we created a big shout, like it's going to be a big film."
After the massive success of its first instalment in 2019, the Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial 'L2: Empuraan' is one of the highly anticipated movies of 2025.
Apart from Mohanlal, the film also stars Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier, among others.
As per the trailer, the second part of the film delves into social-political drama with Mohanlal's character at the centre. Packed with intensity, the video is a cinematic spectacle with Mohanlal commanding a larger-than-life screen presence as Khureshi-Ab'raam.
The film is expected to offer a gripping glimpse into Khureshi's past and showcase a power struggle within the political party.
L2: Empuraan will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. It is set to release in theatres on March 27. (ANI)