Akshay Kumar is on a promotional tour for his upcoming film Raksha Bandhan and during a promotional tour, he was asked by a fan if he would remake a Malayalam film or act in one. According to the TOI, Kumar replied, "I would love to star in it, but I don't know how to speak Malayalam." In the past, Kumar has appeared in Tamil and Kannada films. "I did a Tamil film with Rajinikanth sir, I have worked in a Kannada film. It would be my privilege to work in Malayalam. I should talk to Priyadarshan about it, and ask him if he can cast me with Mohanlal. It would be an honour to do that," he said.
Kumar has starred in Garam Masala (2005), Khatta Meetha (2010), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), all of which were originally made in Malayalam, directed by Priyadarshan and had Mohanlal in the lead roles.