Rajinikanth Publicist Dismisses Dharman Rift Rumours

Publicist steps in after on-set whispers

Riaz K Ahmed, Rajinikanth’s publicist, has dismissed reports of a falling-out between the superstar and Dharman director Ashwath Marimuthu. After the speculation picked up on social media, Ahmed responded on X and called the claims “completely false.” He said he had watched the shoot at close quarters over several days, and his wording was careful to address the rumour head-on.

In the same post, Ahmed described the director’s working style as energetic and said the shoot gives Rajinikanth “great courage and joy.” He added that the film is progressing well, quickly and excellently. For fans who read silence on set as trouble, it was the clearest official word yet. The clarification arrives while the project is already being followed closely for its star pairing and its eventful journey to production.

Why the rumour found an audience

The reason the story caught on is not complicated. Dharman began life as Thalaivar 173 and went through a visible search for a director. KS Ravikumar was among the early choices, followed by Sundar C and Cibi Chakravarthi. Those versions did not materialise, so a fresh story about the current director felt plausible to some fans.

Ashwath Marimuthu, known for Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, is directing Rajinikanth for the first time. The film is produced under Kamal Haasan’s banner, which makes it a rare meeting of two of Tamil cinema’s biggest figures. That combination keeps every update under a spotlight and gives rumours a bigger platform than they would otherwise get. When a production has already changed hands, even a quiet week can be read as a sign of conflict.

What Dharman has locked in

The assembled cast and crew suggest the team is moving with intent. The project has made several key hires and is targeting a festive window rather than rushing a date.

• Cast: Simran, Raashii Khanna, Yogi Babu and Ram Pothineni join Rajinikanth
• Music: Anirudh Ravichander; cinematography: Niketh Bommi; editor: Pradeep E Ragav; action: Anbariv
• Release plan: Pongal 2027, with story details still under wraps

Rajinikanth is also preparing for Jailer 2, his next collaboration with director Nelson. The sequel to the 2023 blockbuster is scheduled to arrive in theatres on October 15. That leaves the superstar with two major projects moving at once: one heading to release and another in full production. The overlap may be one reason the Dharman set has stayed in the headlines.

What fans should take from the clarification

Ahmed’s statement is a reminder that a long production or a changed plan can look like conflict when it is really just the normal movement of a big film. Until the makers share an official update on Dharman, set chatter should be treated as exactly that—chatter. The film, by official word, is progressing well and quickly, with its festive release still in view.

Source: Filmfare