Rajinikanth and Dharman Director Ashwath Marimuthu Rift Rumours Dismissed by Actor’s Team

Rajinikanth’s team has rejected reports of a fallout with Dharman director Ashwath Marimuthu. The clarification follows a deleted social media post alleging tensions during the film’s production.

By All India Story

9 Oct 2026, 1:46 PM IST 2 min read

Rajinikanth and director Ashwath Marimuthu amid speculation about their upcoming film Dharman. — Rajinikanth’s team has dismissed speculation about tensions with Dharman director Ashwath Marimuthu.

The Rajinikanth Ashwath Marimuthu rift rumours have been dismissed by the superstar’s team after a deleted post on X alleged disagreements between the actor and the director of the upcoming Tamil film Dharman. The claims circulated online, prompting questions about the film’s production, but no evidence was provided to substantiate the allegations.

Rajinikanth’s manager responded in Tamil, describing the reports as false. The representative said the actor appeared comfortable and happy while working with Ashwath and described the shoot as progressing smoothly, with the director bringing an energetic approach to the project.

The clarification comes as fans follow the film closely, given its production changes and Rajinikanth’s collaboration with Kamal Haasan as producer.

Dharman’s Production Journey

The project has undergone several changes since the collaboration was first announced. In November 2025, filmmaker Sundar C was named director, but he subsequently exited, citing unavoidable circumstances.

Cibi Chakaravarthi was announced as the next director in January 2026. However, the makers later revealed the title Dharman in June and confirmed Ashwath Marimuthu as the filmmaker.

At the title announcement, Rajinikanth explained that Sundar C had left because of other professional commitments. He also said Cibi’s version would require a substantial investment of time and money.

The film is currently scheduled for a January 2027 theatrical release.

Cast and First-Look Details

Simran, Raashii Khanna and Yogi Babu are part of the announced cast. Reports based on images said to have leaked from the sets have also linked Ram Pothineni and Sreeleela to the project, although their involvement has not been officially confirmed.

The first-look poster features Rajinikanth wearing blue medical scrubs and holding a bloodied scalpel. The makers have kept further details about the storyline under wraps.

For now, the actor’s team has sought to put the reported disagreement to rest. The denial addresses the circulating claims, while the film’s production continues ahead of its planned release.

Rajinikanth’s Next Release: Jailer 2

Before Dharman, Rajinikanth is expected to return as Muthuvel Pandian in Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer 2, which the supplied report says is scheduled for release on October 15, 2026.

Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu and Mirnaa are expected to reprise their roles, while Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar and Jackie Shroff are listed for cameo appearances. Other reported additions include Vidya Balan, SJ Suryah and Mithun Chakraborty.