Rajinikanth’s ‘Dharman’ faces fresh rumours; publicist sets the record straight
Speculation about a possible disagreement between Superstar Rajinikanth and filmmaker Ashwath Marimuthu has circulated on social media, prompting the superstar’s publicist to dismiss claims of tension between the two.
The film, initially announced under the working title Thalaivar 173, is now titled Dharman. It is produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International and marks Rajinikanth’s first collaboration with Ashwath, known for directing Oh My Kadavule and Dragon.
The latest rumours followed a now-deleted post on X suggesting differences between the actor and director. Rajinikanth’s publicist, Riaz K Ahmed, rejected the claim, describing it as false.
In his response, Ahmed said he had personally observed Ashwath’s energetic work on the sets over several days. He also expressed confidence in the director’s approach and said the production was progressing smoothly and at a good pace.
The project has undergone several changes during its development. At the film’s title announcement in June, Rajinikanth revealed that directors K S Ravikumar, Sundar C and Cibi Chakravarthi had been considered at different stages. Those earlier versions did not move forward, and Ashwath eventually took charge of the project.
The film’s cast includes Simran, Raashii Khanna, Yogi Babu and Ram Pothineni. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music, Niketh Bommi is handling cinematography, Pradeep E Ragav is the editor, and action choreography is being handled by Anbariv.
Dharman is expected to arrive in theatres in January 2027, timed for the Pongal festive season.
Rajinikanth’s next release is Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer 2, which is scheduled to hit cinemas on October 15. With Dharman still in production, the publicist’s statement seeks to put an end to speculation about the working relationship between its lead actor and director.