A day after revealing the title and first-look poster of Dharman, the makers have released another glimpse of Rajinikanth’s character as the film officially went on floors on Thursday.
The new poster shows the 75-year-old actor holding a doctor’s coat with a stethoscope around his neck, hinting at a medical angle to his role. Sharing the image on social media, the team wrote, “Swag is his Signature. Ketta Paiyan Sir. Dharman shoot begins.”
The phrase “Ketta Paiyan Sir” appears to reference Rajinikanth’s iconic dialogue from Mullum Malarum, where his character Kaali says, “Ketta Paiyan Sir Indha Kaali.”
Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and produced by Kamal Haasan, Dharman is Rajinikanth’s 173rd film. The cast includes Simran, who reunites with the superstar after Petta, along with Raashii Khanna in an important role.
The film’s technical team features music by Anirudh, action choreography by Anbariv, cinematography by Niketh Bommi, editing by Pradeep E Ragav, and production design by Karthik Rajkumar.
While the plot has been kept under wraps, anticipation continues to build due to the secrecy around Rajinikanth’s role and the film’s storyline. At the launch event on June 24, the director hinted that the film blends elements from two of his favourite Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan films, combining mass entertainment with thriller elements.
He also described Dharman as a family-oriented thriller with a larger-than-life central character.
The project has seen changes since its initial announcement in 2025, when Sundar C was originally set to direct. He later exited the film due to unforeseen circumstances, after which Ashwath Marimuthu took over as director.
