What exactly is Rajinikanth playing in Dharman? Director finally drops biggest clue

At the launch of Rajinikanth's Dharman, director Ashwath Marimuthu said the film is a family-oriented thriller, not a "5 Rupees Doctor" story. His remarks, along with the first-look poster and production update, sharpened interest in the superstar's role as shooting begins on Thursday.

In Short

• Director Ashwath Marimuthu said Dharman is not a "5 Rupees Doctor"
• He described Rajinikanth's character as a swaggy and deadly doctor
• Shooting for the film is set to begin on Thursday

Rajinikanth's 173rd film, Dharman, will be a blend of Padayappa and Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, according to director Ashwath Marimuthu. Speaking at the film's launch event on Wednesday, the filmmaker described the project as a mix of two of his favourite films starring Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, hinting at a story that combines mass entertainment with thriller-style storytelling.

Dharman was officially launched on Wednesday, with producer Kamal Haasan unveiling the title and first look. Elaborating on the film's tone, Ashwath said it draws inspiration from the larger-than-life appeal of Padayappa and the investigative edge of Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, suggesting a film that marries Rajinikanth's trademark screen presence with elements of a gripping thriller.

Ashwath also offered the biggest clue yet about Rajinikanth's character, seemingly putting to rest speculation that the superstar would play a role inspired by the popular "5 Rupees Doctor" archetype. Instead, the director described Dharman as a family-oriented thriller featuring a larger-than-life protagonist, suggesting a character that leans more towards mass entertainment than a straightforward biographical inspiration.

Speculation around Rajinikanth's role had intensified in recent months following reports that he would portray a compassionate, philanthropic doctor modelled on real-life figures such as Dr SC Shankare Gowda of Karnataka, popularly known as the "5 Rupees Doctor" for his affordable healthcare services. However, Ashwath's latest remarks indicate that Dharman may be heading in a very different direction.

The recently released first-look poster only fuelled curiosity. It featured Rajinikanth dressed in blue medical scrubs, holding a blood-stained scalpel while standing over a beaten man. Accompanied by the tagline 'Dharmame Vellum' (Justice will prevail), the poster hinted at a character far removed from a conventional medical practitioner.

The project has also had a long journey to the sets. Originally announced in 2025 with Sundar C as director, the film later underwent multiple changes behind the scenes. Sundar C exited the project due to unforeseen circumstances, while reports later suggested that Tamil film Don's director Cibi Chakravarthy had also moved away from the film during pre-production. Ashwath Marimuthu has now officially taken charge of the project and confirmed that shooting will commence on Thursday.

Bankrolled by Kamal Hassan's banner RKFI, the film also stars Simran and Raashi Khanna in key roles. Music is being composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while cinematography, editing and action choreography will be handled by Niketh Bommi, Pradeep E Ragav and Anbariv respectively.

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