‘Thalaivar 173’: Ramesh Khanna clarifies Sundar C’s exit, dismisses rumors

Excitement has been building for weeks around Rajinikanth’s upcoming film ‘Thalaivar 173.’ When it was announced that the project would be produced by Kamal Haasan and directed by Sundar C, fans celebrated widely. However, the unexpected news of Sundar C stepping away from the film surprised many in the Kollywood industry, leading to several online theories about the reason behind the change.In a recent interview with Nakkheeran, actor-director Ramesh Khanna clarified the situation. He revealed that Sundar C had already committed to two upcoming films, namely ‘Mookuthi Amman 2’ and a project with Vishal. Stepping away from these films to take up ‘Thalaivar 173’ would have been perceived as an act of unprofessionalism, he explained. “People would say he abandoned other commitments because he got a bigger film. That is why he had to step aside,” Ramesh Khanna said. Ramesh Khanna further shared that the Rajinikanth–Kamal Haasan project is a massive undertaking, requiring more time for story development and detailed planning. However, the production team reportedly wanted to begin shooting within three months, a timeline Sundar C could not accommodate due to his prior commitments.He also criticized the rumors circulating online about disagreements between Sundar C and Rajinikanth or disputes over the story. “People say anything without checking facts,” he remarked. With this clarification, Ramesh Khanna has helped clear much of the confusion surrounding ‘Thalaivar 173.’ Meanwhile Rajinikanth's previous film was 'Coolie'.