Superstar Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated 173rd feature film, previously known under the tentative title Thalaivar 173, has been officially titled Dharman. The film comes with the English tagline “The Deadly Doctor” and the Tamil slogan “தர்மமே வெல்லும்!” (Dharmame Vellum), which translates to “Righteousness alone will triumph!”
Produced by legend Kamal Haasan under his famous banner Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) alongside Turmeric Media, the project has generated massive hype across social media and the South Indian film industry.
First-Look Poster: Rajinikanth in a Bold New Avatar
The makers unveiled a striking first-look poster during a grand title launch event in Chennai. In the poster, Rajinikanth appears as a doctor wearing blue surgical scrubs, sunglasses, and a salt-and-pepper hairstyle. He is seen smiling inside an operation theater while holding a bloodied surgical tool (scalpel), surrounded by broken glass, medical equipment, and bodies lying at his feet.
Cast and Crew: Star-Studded Collaboration
The movie brings together a stellar cast and top-tier technical crew:
Lead Cast
- Rajinikanth as the titular character, playing a deadly doctor.
- Simran as one of the female leads. This marks her reunion with Rajinikanth after Petta (2019) and with producer Kamal Haasan after Panchathanthiram (2002) and Pammal K. Sambandam (2002).
- Raashii Khanna as a female lead.
- Yogi Babu in a prominent role.
- Filming discussions also point to potential involvement from director-actor Mysskin, who previously worked with director Ashwath Marimuthu in Dragon, though official confirmation is awaited.
Technical Crew
- Director & Writer:Ashwath Marimuthu (known for Oh My Kadavule and Dragon).
- Music Composer:Anirudh Ravichander, reuniting with Rajinikanth after scoring multiple energetic blockbuster soundtracks for the Superstar.
- Cinematographer:Niketh Bommi.
- Editor:Pradeep E. Ragav.
- Stunt Choreographers: The acclaimed duo Anbariv (Anbu and Arivu), promising high-voltage mass action sequences.
Behind the Scenes: The Journey of Director Changes
Speaking at the Chennai title announcement event, Rajinikanth openly addressed the project’s journey, revealing why the film went through several director changes before finalizing Ashwath Marimuthu:
- Lokesh Kanagaraj: Following Coolie (2025), initial discussions took place for Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan to act together on screen for the first time in 46 years (since 1979’s Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum). However, the two veterans wanted a light-hearted film as a break from heavy action roles. Lokesh politely declined, stating that light-hearted comedy was not his core specialty.
- K. S. Ravikumar: Discussions were held with director K. S. Ravikumar to helm the project.
- Sundar C: In November 2025, director Sundar C (who directed Rajinikanth in 1997’s Arunachalam) was officially announced to direct, reuniting with Kamal Haasan after 2003’s Anbe Sivam. However, Sundar C stepped down shortly after due to prior commitments, delayed schedules, and a preference for making films under his own creative vision without time pressure.
- Cibi Chakravarthy: In January 2026, Don (2022) director Cibi Chakravarthy was brought on board. Cibi pitched a story about a nuclear scientist dealing with nuclear weaponry, with planned shooting schedules in Russia and Afghanistan. Though Rajinikanth loved the script, the project was postponed because its sensitive political subject matter required a massive budget, extensive planning, and significant time.
- Ashwath Marimuthu: Rajinikanth was deeply impressed after watching Ashwath Marimuthu’s film Dragon (2025). When Ashwath pitched his story, he sent Rajinikanth a voice note saying, “We should win at any cost.” While Kamal Haasan was initially hesitant to take on another script meeting, Rajinikanth convinced him to listen. Kamal loved the script and immediately approved Ashwath as director and writer.
Due to taking up Dharman on top priority, Ashwath Marimuthu’s previously announced fantasy romantic-comedy project STR 51 starring Silambarasan (Simbu) as the “God of Love” has been temporarily put on hold.
Filming Schedule and Legacy Context
- Principal Photography: Filming began on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
- Title Legacy:Dharman continues Rajinikanth’s history of films with the word “Dharma” (righteousness) in their titles, following his previous hit movies Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988) and Dharma Durai (1991).
- Upcoming Rajinikanth Projects: Beyond Dharman, Rajinikanth’s upcoming lineup includes Jailer 2 directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, as well as a separate untitled project where both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan will share screen space together, also directed by Nelson.