Celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam has finally addressed the long-standing speculation about a potential reunion with Superstar Rajinikanth, a pairing that last graced the silver screen in the cult 1991 classic Thalapathi. For years, fans have hoped the two icons would collaborate again, especially after Rajinikanth’s appearance at the Ponniyin Selvan audio launch reignited the buzz.

However, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ratnam shared his honest thoughts:
“I have no idea if it will happen. I should have a script for him, and I don't know if I have it in me to write something for him given the scale of his market. He's become bigger and bigger over the years.”

Ratnam’s candour offers a glimpse into the creative pressure that comes with scripting for a star whose influence has only grown exponentially over time.

Reflecting on his upcoming film Thug Life, the director shared that the project with Kamal Haasan was also long in the making. “We met several times over the years,” Ratnam revealed, “but it took the better part of four decades for the stars to align.”

The filmmaker also spoke about the growing challenge of balancing narrative depth with fan expectations in today’s star-driven cinema.

“It really depends on the star, and if he is interested in acting and making films that don’t just cater to the fan following. Of course, you can’t deny the fandom, but whether that alone should dictate what they do... that’s a call that the filmmaker and actor have to take.”

He added that if actors are willing to “acknowledge what the fans want, but also move slightly away in a different direction from the usual template,” meaningful collaborations are still possible.

While Mani Ratnam has not ruled out working with Rajinikanth entirely, his words reflect the evolving dynamics of stardom, storytelling, and creative freedom in modern Indian cinema. For now, fans can only wait and hope that lightning strikes twice.

Source : The Hollywood Reporter
Image Credit : StudioFlicks