Rajinikanth Was Blown Away by Ashwath Marimuthu’s Script — So Why Didn’t Thalaivar173 Happen?

Here’s a fascinating bit of Tamil cinema behind-the-scenes drama that nobody saw coming. Dragon director Ashwath Marimuthu has openly confirmed that he was the original first choice for Rajinikanth’s next big project — Thalaivar173 — well before director Cibi Chakaravarthi came on board. And the story of how it almost happened is honestly something else.

Thalaivar173 — Key Details

What Ashwath Marimuthu Actually Said

Ashwath Marimuthu revealed in a recent interview that he was the first choice for Thalaivar173. While working on a different script after hitting a creative deadlock on STR51, he developed an entirely new idea and narrated it to Rajinikanth for one hour and forty minutes.

And Rajinikanth was completely hooked. He was so engrossed during the interval block that he even forgot to have lunch while listening to the narration. Rajinikanth told Ashwath that the villain character had come out superbly and even began discussing proper casting for the role.

That’s not a polite “we’ll think about it” — that’s a superstar genuinely excited about a project

So Why Did It Fall Through?

The film almost got finalised, but couldn’t happen due to certain situations. Rajinikanth then said he would proceed with Cibi Chakaravarthi’s film instead — but made it clear that Ashwath’s project should definitely be made in the future, adding that only he or Kamal Haasan could fulfil that particular character.

It’s a rare and generous thing for a star of Rajinikanth’s stature to not just pass on a project, but actively endorse it for the future. Clearly, the script left a lasting impression.

A Script for Vijay Too

Ashwath also revealed that he has a big story specifically written for Thalapathy Vijay. When he and producer Pradeep met Vijay after Dragon’s release, Vijay reportedly remarked to producer Archana Kalpathi that Ashwath was the right person for him and that they should have brought him over to work together.

The director’s stock in Tamil cinema is clearly rising fast.

What’s Happening with Thalaivar173 Now?

Thalaivar173 is expected to go on floors in April 2026 with director Cibi Chakaravarthi, with actors like Basil Joseph and Priyanka Mohan rumoured to play pivotal roles alongside Rajinikanth.

Meanwhile, Ashwath is deep into pre-production on STR51 with Silambarasan TR — a film that originally caused the creative block that accidentally led to all of this.

Learn more about Rajinikanth’s incredible five-decade journey in Tamil cinema on Wikipedia.

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