Mani Ratnam On Reunion With Rajinikanth And His Next Films: 'We Never Know'
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Mani Ratnam addressed the speculation surrounding a potential reunion with superstar Rajinikanth. The two last collaborated on Thalapathi in 1991.
Filmmaker Mani Ratnam is currently preparing for the release of Thug Life, which marks his highly anticipated reunion with Kamal Haasan after nearly four decades. The duo last collaborated on the iconic 1987 film Nayakan, and their upcoming project is already creating buzz.
During an exclusive chat, Ratnam spoke about what it was like to work with Kamal again. 'It's been similar working with Kamal Haasan then and now. He was fully evolved even then. He was a big star even then… I was just a beginner and he trusted me and that hasn't changed. Nayakan and Thug Life are in the same genre. It's a distant cousin. But completely different in terms of the equation."
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The director also addressed the speculation surrounding a potential reunion with superstar Rajinikanth. The two last collaborated on Thalapathi in 1991, and rumours about another film began swirling after Rajinikanth appeared at the audio launch of Ponniyin Selvan two years ago.
Reacting to the buzz, Ratnam said, 'I think you should ask Rajini sir… you should see… we never know."
On what lies ahead after Thug Life, the filmmaker shared that he's considering a break before diving into his next. 'After Thug Life, I plan to take a break. I have four scripts in mind, but none of them are fully fleshed out yet. If nothing comes out of them, then that's the end of it. Every filmmaker has several ideas that seem like they could be made into a film."
Ratnam also praised his longtime collaborator AR Rahman, who has composed the music for Thug Life. 'He brings it all in. It's always been a pleasure working with him because he gives you more than you ask for. He works harder than you do. He doesn't settle even when you are ready to settle. So he always takes it beyond what you would expect."
Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, is set for a global theatrical release on June 5, 2025.
First Published:
June 02, 2025, 22:02 IST
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