After a two-year hiatus, actress Amala Paul is returning to Malayalam cinema with Joseph director M Padmakumar’s next. She will play an ACP in the upcoming horror-investigation thriller, which is currently being filmed in Thalassery.Amala’s last Malayalam outing was Level Cross.Padmakumar says he was certain she was the right fit for the role from the outset. “I knew Joju was my Joseph from the initial stage itself. Similarly, I knew this role had to be done by Amala. She readily agreed to take it up and was very happy and excited about the character,” says Padmakumar.Describing the film as a female-oriented subject mounted on a big budget, the director adds, “This is my first time attempting horror, so there is a sense of excitement as well as tension. It is a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to exploring the genre.