As part of his birthday celebrations, Rajinikanth recently re-released his 1999 blockbuster Padayappa in theatres. The film, directed by KS Ravikumar, was based on a story penned by the superstar himself and was also produced by him.
During the film’s promotion, the superstar disclosed that he had plans for a sequel and recalled how he had initially envisioned Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the main antagonist, a role that eventually went to Ramya Krishnan.
Apart from the superstar and Ramya, the film also featured Soundarya, Lakshmi, Sithara, Radha Ravi, and others in pivotal roles.
Rajinikanth’s next films
Rajinikanth is next expected to appear in Jailer 2. The upcoming Tamil-language action comedy serves as a sequel to Jailer (2023), which was a massive box-office blockbuster.
The sequel is reportedly set to follow Muthuvel Pandian as he faces even greater threats than in the first installment, promising intense action and bloodshed. The film is also expected to see Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar reprise their roles from the first movie. Additionally, Mithun Chakraborty and Vidya Balan are likely to play significant roles.
While more details about the film are yet to be revealed, it is expected to be released in theatres by mid-2026.
Looking ahead, Rajinikanth is also set to appear in the lead role in the tentatively titled Thalaivar173, co-produced by Kamal Haasan. The project is expected to be directed by Parking fame Ramkumar Balakrishnan.
