Lokesh Kanagaraj clarified that Kaithi 2 was delayed due to scheduling conflicts and not a salary hike, confirming the sequel is very much on track. He also addressed speculation around Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan collaborations
Lokesh Kanagaraj
Filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj hosted a press meet in Chennai on Monday morning, where he spoke about the timeline of his upcoming films. He also addressed reports about being associated with Rajinikanth’s next and rumours of him backing out of Kaithi 2.
Lokesh Kanagaraj on Thalaivar173
Lokesh last made the film Coolie, which was released in theatres in August last year. Starring Rajinikanth in the lead, the film opened to mixed reviews. However, despite that, it ran for 35 days. Speaking about the film, Lokesh said, “Sun Pictures told me the movie was profitable, so thanks for that. The criticism helped me understand what audiences expect from me, and I’ll make improvements in future films.”
He further clarified that while he is not associated with Thalaivar 173, he was approached for a Rajinikanth–Kamal Haasan project before the release of Coolie. However, the actors were not keen on the genre he proposed and preferred a light-hearted film. “I worked on the script for one-and-a-half months, but Kamal sir and Rajini sir had different ideas. Both had done back-to-back action films and were consciously looking for something lighter. That’s not my cup of tea,” he said.\
Lokesh on why Kaithi 2 got delayed
Kanagaraj added that when he was in talks with Dream Warrior Pictures for Kaithi and a potential Rajinikanth project, he informed the production house that he would focus on that film instead of Kaithi 2, which they accepted. However, the project did not materialise, and by the time he returned to Kaithi 2, lead actor Karthi had already committed his dates to another project, prompting the team to wait.
“This is why Kaithi 2 was delayed, not because I demanded a salary hike,” Lokesh clarified. “When Kaithi 2 got delayed and Thalaivar 173 didn’t work out, I decided to honour a long-pending commitment with Mythri Movie Makers. That’s how my project with Allu Arjun took shape.”
On both him and Atlee working with Allu Arjun back-to-back, Lokesh said there was no competition. “Tamil cinema is our foundation. We want our films to make the industry proud. As for box office numbers, we’ll be happy for each other’s success.”
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