‘Thalaivar 173’ faces another twist; Cibi Chakravarthi exits, THIS director likely to direct Rajinikanth

Superstar Rajinikanth is currently busy with 'Jailer 2,' directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. At the same time, strong buzz continues around his next big project, tentatively titled 'Thalaivar 173.' The film is expected to be produced on a grand scale by Kamal Haasan under the banner of Raaj Kamal Films International. Because the project brings together two legends of Tamil cinema, expectations are very high among fans. However, the film has been making headlines for a different reason. From the beginning, the project has faced several behind-the-scenes changes, especially regarding the choice of director.

Director Cibi Chakravarthi reportedly exits ‘Thalaivar 173’

The latest report from Zee News suggests that director Cibi Chakravarthi has stepped away from 'Thalaivar 173.' Earlier, he was officially announced as the filmmaker who would direct the project after impressing the team with his story. The plan was to begin the film soon after 'Jailer 2' completes its shoot, with promotional work expected to start by the end of April. In several public events, Cibi Chakravarthi had also said that the movie would be a complete entertainer designed to satisfy Rajinikanth’s fans. But now reports say he may have stepped away from the project due to prior commitments and scheduling conflicts. These developments have once again created uncertainty about the film’s direction.

'Thalaivar 173' earlier director change

'Thalaivar 173' has already experienced a few shifts in its directorial lineup, which is quite interesting. In the beginning, popular filmmaker Sundar C was officially announced as the director of the project. However, he later revealed that he was stepping away from the film within a few days of the announcement. After that, the makers began searching for a new director and considered several story ideas from various filmmakers. During that process, Cibi Chakravarthi was eventually chosen, and his appointment was announced publicly. With the latest reports suggesting his exit as well, the film has once again entered a stage of change and discussion within the industry.

Ashwath Marimuthu is likely to direct Rajinikanth’s next

Now, the report from Zee News says that director Ashwath Marimuthu could take charge of 'Thalaivar 173.' He is known for directing successful films like 'Oh My Kadavule' and 'Dragon.' Interestingly, Ashwath had earlier narrated a story to Rajinikanth when the makers were searching for a director after Sundar C’s exit. At that time, Rajinikanth reportedly liked the story, but the team later went ahead with Cibi Chakravarthi. With the project facing another change now, the opportunity seems to have returned to Ashwath. Reports suggest that discussions have already taken place and an official announcement about the director may be made very soon.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”