Is Rajinikanth's Dharman a remake of The Good Doctor? Director breaks silence

Director Ashwath Marimuthu has addressed social media claims that Rajinikanth's Dharman is an adaptation of The Good Doctor. The clarification comes as the film's doctor-themed tagline and medical setting continue to fuel online speculation.

In Short

• Speculation grew after Dharman's medical backdrop and “The Deadly Doctor” tagline
• An X user claimed the makers had acquired remake rightsof The Good Doctor
• Director Ashwath Marimuthu reacted to the rumours

Ever since Rajinikanth’s Dharman was announced, the film has piqued everyone's curiosity, especially with its tagline “The Deadly Doctor” sparking speculation about the story. Now, a report claiming that the upcoming film is an adaptation of the popular medical drama series, The Good Doctor, has caught attention online, prompting a response from director Ashwath Marimuthu himself.

Putting an end to the speculation, Ashwath Marimuthu dismissed claims that Dharman is an adaptation of the series The Good Doctor. Responding to an X user who suggested that Raaj Kamal Films International had acquired the remake rights of the show for the Rajinikanth-starrer, the filmmaker simply wrote, “Fake News!”

The speculation began after an X user claimed that Dharman was based on the Netflix series The Good Doctor and wondered how the makers would adapt the story for the big screen.

The Good Doctor, starring Freddie Highmore, follows a young surgeon with savant syndrome and autism who joins a prestigious hospital and faces challenges while proving his abilities through his medical skills and intuition. The seven-season series also features actors including Hill Harper, Richard Schiff, Christina Chang, Paige Spara, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee, Antonia Thomas, Nicholas Gonzalez and Tamlyn Tomita.

The rumours gained traction after the announcement of Dharman, especially due to its medical backdrop and the tagline “The Deadly Doctor”. The makers recently released another poster for the film and used Rajinikanth’s iconic line from Mullum Malarum, “Ketta Paiyan Sir” (Bad Boy Sir), in the caption.

Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, Dharman marks Rajinikanth’s 173rd film. The project also stars Simran and Raashii Khanna, and production is currently underway.

- Ends