The tumultuous path to Dharman: Behind the scenes of a Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan collaboration

After three director changes and a high-stakes pivot, the Rajinikanth-starrer Dharman finally finds its footing under Ashwath Marimuthu.

In the high-pressure corridors of Chennai’s film industry, few projects come with as much weight—or as many false starts—as the latest collaboration between two of Indian cinema’s biggest titans. Dharman, the upcoming film produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, has finally settled on its captain: Ashwath Marimuthu. For Rajinikanth, however, getting to this point required a candid admission of the creative hurdles that stalled the project for months.

The superstar recently broke the silence on the revolving door of directors that preceded Marimuthu’s arrival. The production initially eyed KS Ravikumar, but the partnership failed to materialise. They then turned to Sundar C, who eventually stepped away due to his own production commitments. The third choice, Cibi Chakravarthi, was perhaps the most difficult to walk away from. Rajinikanth revealed that Cibi had pitched a gripping, high-concept story about a nuclear scientist, with plans to film in Russia and Afghanistan. While the star praised the quality of the script, the sheer sensitivity of the subject matter and the massive logistical timeline required made it an impractical gamble for the current schedule.

A fresh vision for the "deadly doctor"

Ashwath Marimuthu, known for Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, now steps into the spotlight. The transition seems to be one of mutual respect; Marimuthu recounted how a simple voice note from Rajinikanth—a short, sharp directive stating, “We should win at any cost”—set the tone for their collaboration. It is a striking detail that highlights how, even with decades in the industry, the duo remains intensely focused on the competitive stakes of the box office.

The first-look poster of the dharman movie has already set the internet ablaze, offering a stark departure from typical star-vehicle aesthetics. Rajinikanth is captured in the role of a "deadly doctor," clad in surgical scrubs and brandishing a blood-stained scalpel, surrounded by an eerie, visceral backdrop. With Simran and Raashii Khanna joining the ensemble, the project is clearly aiming for a dark, intense narrative shift.

Why it matters: The power of the pivot

This project’s journey is a masterclass in the pragmatism that defines modern Tamil cinema’s power structures. In an era where star-studded films are scrutinised by fans and trade analysts alike, the ability to shelve a high-concept script—like the nuclear thriller proposed by Cibi—in favour of a more viable creative direction is telling. It shows that even icons like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are governed by the reality of production cycles and the necessity of keeping the "star machine" running smoothly.

For the industry, the dharman saga serves as a reminder that the most ambitious films are often those that survive the most turbulent pre-production phases. By finally locking in a director who aligns with their immediate vision, the team has moved past the administrative delays that previously dominated headlines in the Hindustan Times and other outlets. Whether this "deadly doctor" narrative will resonate with the audience remains the ultimate test, but the journey to the set has already proven as dramatic as any screenplay.