Rajinikanth’s much-discussed Thalaivar 173 has regained momentum after the makers officially announced Cibi Chakravarty as the film’s director. Shared on social media on January 3, the update brings renewed clarity to the long-awaited project, which had been in a state of uncertainty over the past few weeks.
Thalaivar 173 is being produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, headed by Kamal Haasan, marking a significant collaboration between two of Indian cinema’s biggest icons. Along with announcing the new director, the makers shared a cryptic message: “Every hero has a family”, hinting at the emotional core that will drive the story.
Every HERO has a FAMILY#Arambikalama #Thalaivar173 #SuperStarPongal2027 @rajinikanth @ikamalhaasan @Dir_Cibi @anirudhofficial #Mahendran @APIfilms @homescreenent@RKFI @turmericmediaTM @magizhmandram pic.twitter.com/IkVVMgi3q8
— Raaj Kamal Films International (@RKFI) January 3, 2026
ALSO SEE: Ikkis Box Office Update Day 2: Agastya Nanda-Starrer Shows Steady Growth, Crosses ₹10 Crore
Cibi Chakravarty announced his appointment as director of Thalaivar 173 with an emotional note, recalling how his childhood dream of meeting Rajinikanth eventually grew into the ambition to direct the superstar. Calling the moment a long-awaited dream come true, he said his belief never wavered despite earlier setbacks. Quoting Rajinikanth’s words, “Dreams do come true. Miracles do happen,” Cibi expressed deep gratitude to Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and producer Mahendran, and promised to give his heart and soul to honour their trust on the film.
The update comes after the project faced a brief setback when original director Sundar C exited due to creative differences. His departure had slowed progress and sparked uncertainty around the film’s future, but the latest announcement appears to have firmly put those concerns to rest.
Cibi Chakravarty, best known for the hit film Don, has now taken over as director. Known for crafting engaging commercial entertainers, his appointment has reportedly boosted confidence within the production team, who believe his storytelling sensibilities align well with the scale and expectations of a Rajinikanth-starrer.
With a new director in place, pre-production is back in full swing, and the team is said to be working at pace to recover lost time. The makers are targeting a Pongal 2027 release, and as Thalaivar 173 moves ahead with renewed momentum, anticipation is building for what is expected to be a major theatrical event.
For the unversed, Thalaivar 173 saw an early shake-up when the production house announced on November 5 that Sundar C would direct the film, a decision that drew mixed reactions from fans. Just days later, on November 13, Sundar C exited the project citing “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances,” triggering speculation that his script had been rejected. These rumours were firmly dismissed by his wife Khushbu Sundar, who called them “hearsay” and shared photos with Kamal Haasan to dispel talk of a rift. Kamal Haasan later addressed the issue briefly, saying, “As an investor, I want a script that my star likes for the film. That is the healthy way to go about it.”
ALSO SEE: Sunny Deol Reveals How Father Dharmendra’s Haqeeqat Inspired Him to Border
