Expectations naturally soar when Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth come together for a film after a long gap. These expectations created considerable pressure on director Sundar C who later announced his exit from the most awaited project that was supposed to star the two big names.Sundar C opens up on ‘Too much pressure’Sundar C has now addressed his decision in an interview with Behindwoods. Sharing his thoughts, he said, “To be honest, it was too much pressure for me. For the past 16 years, I’ve made films the way I wanted, based on what I felt would work with the audience. But I don’t have the capacity to make people understand this during production. I don’t know how to narrate a film effectively, and at the same time, I get compromised easily without putting up a fight.“Creative concerns and early exit from ‘Thalaivar 173’The filmmaker further elaborated on the complexities of handling a film featuring two legendary stars. He explained that such a project would involve multiple voices and expectations, making it difficult for him to maintain his creative vision. He added, “So if I do a big film like this, it won’t be just my decisions. I felt the pressure and realised I couldn’t stay true to the project or the people involved. That’s why I stepped away at the very beginning stage itself.“Sundar C also said in the interview that he personally informed Rajinikanth about his decision regarding the exit. Director Cibi Chakaravarthi was brought on board to take over and move the project forward.‘Thalaivar 173’ announcement and exitSundar C was initially announced as the director of the much-awaited project, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 173’. The film was revealed in November last year and was expected to target a Pongal 2027 release. However, within days of the official announcement, the filmmaker stepped away from the project. At the time he cited “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for his exit.In a statement released soon after stepping down, Sundar C expressed regret over missing the opportunity. He also spoke about his long-standing association with both stars and the respect he holds for them. He said, “In life, there are moments when we must follow the path laid out for us, even if it diverges from our dreams. My association with these two icons goes back a long way, and I will always hold them in the highest regard. The special moments we have shared over the past few days will be cherished forever by me. They have taught me invaluable lessons, and I will continue to seek their inspiration and wisdom as I move forward,” he said.Meanwhile, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are now set to reunite for another ambitious project titled ‘KH x RK’. The film is positioned as a major Tamil action-thriller and is scheduled for a 2026 release. The project is directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.Interestingly, the Malayalam film industry has seen the biggest collaboration ever: Mammootty and Mohanlal’s team-up for ‘Patriot’.
