Following the failure of Coolie, Rajinikanth completed the shooting of his next film, the highly anticipated sequel Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. The film is currently in post-production, and the team is reportedly aiming for an October release.
After wrapping up Jailer 2, Rajinikanth took a short break and traveled to Ooty. Now, according to strong industry speculation, the actor is back to work and has completed a photoshoot for his next film, tentatively titled Thalaivar 173, which is being directed by Ashwath Marimuthu.
Reports suggest that Rajinikanth will be playing a doctor in the film and that his look was finalized during the photoshoot. Shooting is expected to begin next month, while an official announcement regarding Ashwath Marimuthu’s association with the project is likely to be made soon. If these reports turn out to be true, it will mark one of the rare occasions on which Rajinikanth portrays a doctor on screen.
The speculation has already gone viral and generated considerable excitement among fans. Many social media users have begun discussing theories about the film and are eager to see what Ashwath Marimuthu has planned for Rajinikanth in such an unusual role. According to reports, the actor plays a doctor who charges just Rs. 5 from his patients.
At the same time, some fans are slightly concerned about the reported character choice. Over the last few years, Rajinikanth has predominantly appeared as either a don or a police officer. As a result, many audiences have become accustomed to seeing him in those larger-than-life avatars. Some believe that such a dramatic shift could carry the risk of not connecting immediately with a section of the audience.
On the other hand, many fans feel that this is precisely why the role sounds exciting. After several films built around familiar mass-hero templates, a doctor character could offer Rajinikanth an opportunity to explore something fresh and different.
Ultimately, all of this remains speculation for now, as there have been no official updates regarding Thalaivar 173. It remains to be seen whether Rajinikanth is indeed playing a doctor and, if so, how Ashwath Marimuthu shapes the character and the film around him.
