Shah Rukh Khan or Ranveer Singh? - Lokesh Kanagaraj hunts for a Bollywood star for Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 171

Reputed Tamil filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most valuable artists in the Indian film industry. Recently, he directed the film ‘Leo’, starring Vijay in the lead role – which emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2023. It minted over Rs 615 crores at the box office. Knowing this fact, Lokesh hopes to taste the flavour of success again. Following Leo, Lokesh is now working on a film with megastar Rajinikanth, for his 171st film, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 171’.

Lokesh Kanagaraj hunts for a Bollywood star for Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 171

According to a report published in Pinkvilla this evening, Lokesh wishes to cast a Bollywood actor who would be featuring alongside Rajinikanth in the film. The report claimed that Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh have been approached to play a role in the film.

The report further added that Shah Rukh Khan would likely not be a part of the film. "After doing a series of appearances in films like Brahmastra, Rocketry, and Tiger 3, SRK now wants to keep himself exclusive for standalone feature films,” stated the report. 

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Director Lokesh has also engaged in discussions with actor Ranveer Singh for a role, and Ranveer is expressing a strong interest in joining the project. Although he has heard about the character, Ranveer is eager to listen to the entire script before committing to the film. Sources close to the development additionally told Pinkvilla that Lokesh has even explored the potential for a character spin-off if Thalaivar 171 proves successful. The duo is scheduled for another meeting in 2024.

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Scheduled to commence production in April next year, Thalaivar 171 aims for a grand cinematic release in 2025. Positioned as one of the most eagerly awaited films in Tamil Cinema, the creators are aiming for an ensemble cast that spans across various industries, with plans to feature up to 10 actors in key roles.

Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh has a couple of high-budget projects to work on. ‘Singham Again’, ‘Don 3’, ‘Baiju Bawra’, and ‘Takht’ are among those on the list.

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