section_path: Production/Filming
section_name: Filming
paragraph_text: Filming
  
  Following a six-month-long location scouting process in India, which concluded in February 2023, the film crew embarked on a recce across several international locations. Principal photography was originally scheduled to commence on 15 August, however, it was postponed after Prithviraj sustained an injury on the sets of Vilayath Buddha. Production eventually began with a customary muhurtam shot on 5 October in Faridabad on the outskirts of Delhi and Haryana. It primarily featured foreign actors and extras. Filming was moved to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, following a day of shooting in Faridabad. Filming also took place in Leh, Ladakh. The first schedule was completed in Ladakh on 28 October.
  
  The crew began location scouting in the United Kingdom in November 2023. The location scouting process for the entire film spanned 18 months. The second schedule started in the UK in January 2024 and concluded later that month. In late February, filming shifted to the United States, covering various locations including New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, San Francisco, and Atlanta. This schedule featured the principal cast members, Mohanlal, Tovino, Prithviraj, and Indrajith, and continued until the second week of March. By this time, approximately 20 percent of the film had been completed. The subsequent phase of production began in April on specially constructed sets in Chennai, concluding within the same month. This phase involved Mohanlal, Tovino, Warrier, and Saniya.
  
  By May, the production had moved to Thiruvananthapuram, where scenes were filmed at two schools with the participation of 2,000 extras, along with cast members Warrier, Suraj, Saikumar, Baiju, and Nandhu. In June, the crew filmed in Kochi, before relocating to Gujarat by mid-June for the longest schedule of the production. The Gujarat schedule included scenes depicting Zayed's younger years, with Mohanlal joining the shoot. Filming took place at a palace and on custom-built sets, covering both past and present timelines. However, heavy downpour caused delays. Production resumed in Rajkot during the fourth week of September. The team shifted to Hyderabad in October for a brief schedule, reportedly at Ramoji Film City.
  
  Later in October, the production team returned to Thiruvananthapuram. Filming was held at Kanakakkunnu Palace, The Leela Kovalam, Adimalathura Beach, and Pallippuram. This phase concluded within the same month. Additional scenes were shot in places such as Thammanam, Kuttikkanam, and Vandiperiyar during October. In November, the production moved to the United Arab Emirates and Mumbai before returning to Kerala to film in Ernakulam, Chalakudy, and Palakkad. Filming was wrapped on 1 December 2024, on the banks of the Malampuzha Reservoir, marking the conclusion of 14 months of production. Empuraan was completed in 145 days, which was 28 days shorter than the originally planned schedule.
  
  Empuraan was filmed using the anamorphic format with a 2.8:1 aspect ratio, ensuring visual consistency with the first film. Prithviraj confirmed the third instalment will follow the same approach. He mostly utilised practical effects for the action sequences. The fight sequences were choreographed by Stunt Silva. Sujith Vaassudev and Mohandas were retained as the cinematographer and art director, respectively. Nirmal Sahadev served as the film's creative director. Suresh Balaje and George Pius of Wide Angle Creations served as the film's line producers.
  
  Following a six-month-long location scouting process in India, which concluded in February 2023, the film crew embarked on a recce across several international locations. Principal photography was originally scheduled to commence on 15 August, however, it was postponed after Prithviraj sustained an injury on the sets of Vilayath Buddha. Production eventually began with a customary muhurtam shot on 5 October in Faridabad on the outskirts of Delhi and Haryana. It primarily featured foreign actors and extras. Filming was moved to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, following a day of shooting in Faridabad. Filming also took place in Leh, Ladakh. The first schedule was completed in Ladakh on 28 October.
  
  The crew began location scouting in the United Kingdom in November 2023. The location scouting process for the entire film spanned 18 months. The second schedule started in the UK in January 2024 and concluded later that month. In late February, filming shifted to the United States, covering various locations including New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, San Francisco, and Atlanta. This schedule featured the principal cast members, Mohanlal, Tovino, Prithviraj, and Indrajith, and continued until the second week of March. By this time, approximately 20 percent of the film had been completed. The subsequent phase of production began in April on specially constructed sets in Chennai, concluding within the same month. This phase involved Mohanlal, Tovino, Warrier, and Saniya.
  
  By May, the production had moved to Thiruvananthapuram, where scenes were filmed at two schools with the participation of 2,000 extras, along with cast members Warrier, Suraj, Saikumar, Baiju, and Nandhu. In June, the crew filmed in Kochi, before relocating to Gujarat by mid-June for the longest schedule of the production. The Gujarat schedule included scenes depicting Zayed's younger years, with Mohanlal joining the shoot. Filming took place at a palace and on custom-built sets, covering both past and present timelines. However, heavy downpour caused delays. Production resumed in Rajkot during the fourth week of September. The team shifted to Hyderabad in October for a brief schedule, reportedly at Ramoji Film City.
  
  Later in October, the production team returned to Thiruvananthapuram. Filming was held at Kanakakkunnu Palace, The Leela Kovalam, Adimalathura Beach, and Pallippuram. This phase concluded within the same month. Additional scenes were shot in places such as Thammanam, Kuttikkanam, and Vandiperiyar during October. In November, the production moved to the United Arab Emirates and Mumbai before returning to Kerala to film in Ernakulam, Chalakudy, and Palakkad. Filming was wrapped on 1 December 2024, on the banks of the Malampuzha Reservoir, marking the conclusion of 14 months of production. Empuraan was completed in 145 days, which was 28 days shorter than the originally planned schedule.
  
  Empuraan was filmed using the anamorphic format with a 2.8:1 aspect ratio, ensuring visual consistency with the first film. Prithviraj confirmed the third instalment will follow the same approach. He mostly utilised practical effects for the action sequences. The fight sequences were choreographed by Stunt Silva. Sujith Vaassudev and Mohandas were retained as the cinematographer and art director, respectively. Nirmal Sahadev served as the film's creative director. Suresh Balaje and George Pius of Wide Angle Creations served as the film's line producers.