Is Rajinikanth’s Upcoming Film ‘Thalaivar 171’ Turning Into ‘Thalapathy 2’?

Rajinikanth’s upcoming film, Thalaivar 171, is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Recently, there were rumors suggesting that Mammootty, the renowned Malayalam actor, might join the cast. 

However, during a promotional event for his film Kaathal The Core, Mammootty clarified these rumors. He stated clearly, “There is no truth in the news,” thus confirming that he is not a part of Thalaivar 171.

This clarification ends speculation that had been growing, especially since Rajinikanth and Mammootty had previously collaborated in the 1991 film Thalapathi, directed by Mani Ratnam. 

Their pairing in Thalapathi was both commercially and critically successful, leaving fans eager to see them together on screen again. However, Mammootty’s recent statement has put to rest any such hopes for Thalaivar 171.

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Speaking about his potential involvement in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), Mammootty humorously remarked, “Isn’t Malayalam cinema enough for me? Let them call. Will think about it.” This response suggests that while he is open to the idea, there are no current plans for such a collaboration.

Thalaivar 171 is a highly anticipated film, especially as it marks the first collaboration between Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj. 

Lokesh, known for his love of Rajinikanth’s starry avatar, has expressed his intention to showcase Rajinikanth’s style and swag, perhaps even exploring his negative shade on screen. The film is described as experimental and is written as a standalone movie, not part of the LCU.

Regarding the storyline of Thalaivar 171, there have been speculations that it might turn into a sequel to Thalapathy, titled ‘Thalapathy 2’. However, these are just rumors at this stage. 

Lokesh Kanagaraj is known for his unique storytelling approach, as seen in his recent hit ‘Leo’ starring Thalapathy Vijay, and his creative decisions for Thalaivar 171 are eagerly awaited by fans.

As for the casting of Thalaivar 171, other than Rajinikanth, there have been various names tossed around in the media. Actors like Sivakarthikeyan and Raghava Lawrence have been mentioned as potential cast members, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The film is still in the early stages of development, with Lokesh Kanagaraj set to start writing the script soon, and the shoot is planned to commence in April 2024. The final cast and storyline details are still awaited, making Thalaivar 171 a subject of much curiosity and excitement in the Indian film industry.