Rajinikanth is gearing up for the release of his next film Jailer 2 directed by Nelson Dilip Kumar. As the film is expected to release in mid-2026, the actor may begin shooting for his next project, tentatively titled Thalaivar173, in April 2026. Now, it appears that Basil Joseph may play an important role in the film.
Basil Joseph to be seen with Rajinikanth in Thalaivar173?
According to online buzz, the team of Thalaivar173 is set to add a Malayalam actor to the cast, with the makers reportedly eyeing Basil Joseph for the role. Apparently the Poneman actor is being considered to play Rajinikanth’s son in the film.
Additionally, Priyanka Arul Mohan, who previously worked with director Siby Chakraborty in the film Don, is also being considered for an important role. However, no official confirmation has been made yet.
Recently, the director clarified that they are planning to start shooting the film in April 2026, with reports suggesting that it could be released for Pongal 2027.
Earlier, the superstar himself had revealed plans to start shooting for his next film in April, and stressed that it would be a “proper entertainer”.
The upcoming film is being co-produced by Kamal Haasan under the banner of Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI). Initially, the team had planned to collaborate with director Sundar C; However, he later left the project due to prior commitments, leading to Sibi Chakraborty taking over the responsibility.
Rajinikanth and Basil Joseph’s work front
Rajinikanth will next be seen in the lead role in the sequel Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. It is being told that the film stars SJ Surya, Vidya Balan and Mithun Chakraborty in lead roles.
With Mohanlal and Shiv Rajkumar reprising their roles from the first installment, Shah Rukh Khan is also expected to have a cameo role in the film, which is reportedly to be shot in March this year.
Looking ahead, Rajinikanth has also announced that he will be sharing the screen with Kamal Haasan once again soon. Tentatively titled KHXRK Reunion, it will be directed by Nelson Dilipkumar with Anirudh Ravichander handling the music and background score.
On the other hand, Basil Joseph will next be seen in the film Athiradi alongside Tovino Thomas and Vineeth Sreenivasan. This film is scheduled to release on 14 May 2026.
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