Dhanush in talks to direct former father in law Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 173 after Sundar C’s exit

Dhanush in talks to direct former father in law Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 173 after Sundar C’s exit

Dhanush may be stepping into a pivotal new phase of his filmmaking journey, with reports suggesting he is being considered to direct Rajinikanth in Thalaivar 173. The project, backed by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, has been surrounded by speculation ever since its initially announced director Sundar C walked away. What this has created is a rare moment of uncertainty around a Rajinikanth film, something Tamil cinema doesn't witness often.

Sundar C’s sudden exit left the project without a creative leader. That gap opened the door to a flurry of rumours, but it now appears that the search could be narrowing.

According to a report by Sacnilk, actor-filmmaker Dhanush is in talks to take over the director’s chair. Neither the production house nor anyone from the core team has commented on the speculation, but the possibility alone has fuelled massive excitement. A collaboration that puts Rajinikanth in front of the camera and Dhanush behind it is the kind of crossover moment fans love to imagine.

Thalaivar 173 has been special from the beginning because it marks Kamal Haasan producing a Rajinikanth film after more than four decades. That history added even more weight to the project. When Sundar C withdrew days after being announced, he cited “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances” as the reason. His exit came as a surprise, given his long-standing association with both stars. He directed Rajinikanth in Arunachalam in 1997 and Kamal Haasan in Anbe Sivam in 2003.

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Kamal Haasan kept his response measured when asked about the change. He said Sundar had already explained his reasons through his press release and added, as the producer, it is his responsibility to ensure the script is something Rajinikanth fully trusts. He mentioned that the team is still searching for a final script and noted that a young filmmaker could very well be brought on board. His comment, “expect the unexpected,” has since become the project’s unofficial tagline.

Sundar C, in his press statement, wrote about how sometimes life pushes us toward paths we didn’t plan, even when they pull us away from our dreams. He expressed deep respect for the two icons and wished the team well.