Dubai influencer Khalid Al Ameri on how a conversation with a friend got him cast in Malayalam film

Dubai: It was meant to be just a set visit. A curious, harmless peek into the madness of moviemaking. But when Emirati content creator Khalid Al Ameri landed in Kochi, vibrant port city in Southern Kerala, things got... cinematic.

Before he could say “lights, camera, action,” Khalid — one of the GCC’s most beloved digital storytellers with over 3.2 million followers on Instagram alone — found himself in front of the camera, stepping into the chaotic, testosterone-fuelled world of Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies, a gritty Malayalam action-drama that feels like WWE meets Fort Kochi with a side of emotional masala.

“It turned out to be the perfect way to step into the bold, creative energy of South Indian cinema,” Ameri told Gulf News.

The film, helmed by Adhvaith Nayar and produced by Shihan Shoukath, Ritesh S Ramakrishnan (Reel World Entertainment) and The Mammootty Kampany, stars rising Malayalam powerhouses Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, Vishak Nair, and Dubai boy Ishan Shoukath.

It's got everything — sweat, swagger, sibling feuds, and some serious body slams. Think Kumbalangi Nights but with steel chairs and vengeance arcs.

And then, just when you least expect it — in swaggers Khalid. Charming, composed, and every bit the social media sweetheart we’ve come to love, but now dressed in full-blown Mollywood madness.

His role? Blink-and-you’ll-scream kind of fun. But it’s the symbolism that hits harder — a Dubai-based influencer crossing over into Kerala’s rowdy heartland? Now that’s a cultural flex.

Even better? The movie’s already making serious money moves. Overseas rights have been picked up by Dubai’s The Plot Pictures in what insiders are calling one of the most lucrative overseas distribution deals in Malayalam cinema history.

The music rights, snapped up by a leading Indian label, only sweeten the pot — especially with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy behind the tracks and Mujeeb Majeed composing a heartbeat-heavy score.

And don’t even get us started on the #ChathaPachaChallenge. From Kochi rooftops to Dubai gyms, fans are posting their wildest desi-WWE moves for a chance to win their own cameo in the film. Because apparently, everyone wants a taste of that rowdy stardust.

For Khalid, who built his empire on relatability and heart, this cameo feels like a natural evolution — a crossover moment that says: content creation and cinema are no longer distant cousins. They’re besties now, swapping screen time and fanbases.

Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies hits theatres later this year. And if Khalid’s cameo is anything to go by, this one's bringing the heat — and the heart.