Nayanthara and Rajinikanth Reunite in Dharman After Five Years

The Tamil film calendar just got a little more crowded in the best way. The makers of Dharman have confirmed that Nayanthara has joined Rajinikanth in the upcoming action drama, reuniting one of Tamil cinema’s most familiar on-screen pairings five years after Annaatthe.

A reunion five years in the waiting

The new film is directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, the filmmaker behind Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, and is produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International with R Mahendran. The team has not revealed details of Nayanthara’s character yet, but her addition gives the project another layer of star power.

Their shared history runs deep

Nayanthara and Rajinikanth have been collaborators since the blockbuster horror comedy Chandramukhi in 2005. They followed it with Kuselan in 2008, Darbar in 2020 and Annaatthe in 2021, and she also appeared in the song “Balleilakka” from Sivaji in 2007. If their filmography is any guide, Dharman is less a first meeting than a homecoming.

What we know about Dharman

The makers have kept the plot under wraps, but the film is described as an action drama with Rajinikanth playing a doctor. Production began after the project was announced in June, and the team has reportedly completed three schedules.

The wider ensemble is worth watching:

• Simran, Raashi Khanna and Yogi Babu are confirmed in supporting roles.
• Ram Pothineni has been linked with the antagonist’s role, though the makers have not confirmed it.
• Anirudh Ravichander composes the music, marking his seventh film with Rajinikanth in the lead.
• The crew includes cinematographer Niketh Bommi, editor Pradeep E Ragav, production designer MR Karthik Rajkumar and stunt choreographers Anbariv.

For the composer, too, Dharman is a milestone. Anirudh’s previous Rajinikanth collaborations include Petta, Darbar, Jailer and Jailer 2, and their consistency has made the composer-superstar pairing a draw of its own.

Why this matters for fans

Beyond the reunion, Dharman brings Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan’s creative worlds together: Rajini in front of the camera, Haasan behind it as producer. That pairing is rare enough on its own, and it arrives as the two veterans are also preparing an untitled film directed by Nelson, their first screen collaboration since Ninaithale Inikkum in 1979.

For Nayanthara, the new film lines up alongside a busy slate. She has Mookuthi Amman 2 with Sundar C arriving on November 6, timed to Deepavali.

What comes next

With three schedules complete and more updates expected, the main question is whether Dharman can deliver on its ensemble promise. For now, fans have a new reason to track the production, and a reunion they have waited five years to see.