Director Sundar C had a great opportunity to prove his potential by taking the superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan on board for an upcoming film. Later, the ‘Aranmanai’ director backed out of the project.Actress Kushboo Sundar has now opened up for the first time about her husband’s decision to step away from the much-discussed Rajinikanth project that Kamal Haasan’s production banner originally backed.While addressing the issue, the ‘Dragon’ actor chose not to reveal any details and maintained that the matter was best left to those directly involved.During an interview with Behindwoods, Kushboo was asked what led to Sundar C’s exit from the ambitious project. Keeping her response brief, she said, “I think that’s between the three of them.” When the interviewer remarked, “Something is fishy,” Kushboo refused to be drawn into the discussion and replied, “No, I should not comment on it.”
Khushbu Sundar calls Sundar C’s decision a dignified one
Although she did not disclose the reason behind the filmmaker’s exit, Kushboo praised the way her husband handled the situation. She explained that the family had been excited when the project was first announced, but respected the decision that followed.She said, “The director has decided to back out, he did this in a dignified way. More than him, we (the family) were happy when the film was announced.”Kushboo also revealed that she personally informed Kamal Haasan after Sundar C decided to leave the project. Since she shares a close bond with the veteran actor, she felt it was appropriate to speak with him directly.Recalling that conversation, she said, “I informed Kamal sir that my husband had decided to step away from the project. He acknowledged what I told him. Since I share a close relationship with him, I felt it was important to let him know personally.”
Why Kushboo Sundar refuses to discuss the matter further
Kushboo made it clear that she does not believe the circumstances surrounding the filmmaker’s exit should become a subject of public debate.She stated, “The exit… this isn’t a call only Sundar C can comment on, especially since legends like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are involved. One must not comment on it.”
What Sundar C had said earlier
Months before Kushboo’s interview, Sundar C had spoken about his decision and admitted that the sheer scale of the project made him reconsider his involvement.Explaining his thoughts, he told Behindwoods, “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.”The filmmaker further explained why he felt stepping away was the right choice.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.”
Project moves ahead with a new director
Sundar C was originally announced as the director of the film, tentatively referred to as ‘Thalaivar 173’, with a Pongal 2027 release planned. However, only days after the announcement, he officially withdrew from the project, citing “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for his exit. Later the project was officially titled ‘Dharman’ with Ashwath Marimuthu as the director.On the professional front, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are also set to share screen space in Nelson Dilipkumar’s upcoming film ‘KH X RK’.
Leave a Reply