Rajinikanth’s Dharman could be on the verge of leaving the Pongal 2027 race. Reports suggest Kamal Haasan’s long-awaited Indian 3 is now being lined up for the same festive frame, which would push Dharman to a late-April date.
The reported reshuffle
Dharman is an action entertainer directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, the filmmaker behind Dragon, and is co-produced by Kamal Haasan. It had been expected to hit cinemas around Pongal 2027. According to reports shared by Valai Pechu and Movies Singapore, however, the Indian 3 team wants the festival slot instead.
On the Indian 3 side, the portions filmed alongside Indian 2 are said to be through post-production. Around 15 days of shoot remain for newly planned material. The talk is that after conversations with Kamal Haasan, the makers plan to finish that patch and bring the film to Pongal 2027.
- Indian 3: reported Pongal 2027 release.
- Dharman: possible move to April 30, 2027.
- Varanasi: SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s film is dated April 7, 2027.
A late-April Dharman release would keep it clear of Varanasi, which is currently one of the most anticipated Telugu releases on the calendar.
What the two films are
Indian 3 is designed as a direct continuation of Indian 2. The two parts were shot together, and the ending of Indian 2 reportedly carried a teaser for the next chapter. The third film is expected to look at Senapathy’s earlier years and bring in his father, Veerasekaran Balram, with Kamal Haasan playing that part in a period setting.
The franchise puzzle
Indian 2 arrived in 2024 and left Senapathy’s story open, with its epilogue pointing to a conclusion in Indian 3. That creates an extra layer of pressure: the new part is not a standalone outing but the payoff to a story audiences first saw three years ago. Adding Kamal Haasan’s Veerasekaran Balram as a period-drama thread is a big swing for the climax.
The second film’s mixed reviews and box office raised questions about the sequel, but the makers have recently signalled that Indian 3 is still moving forward, three years after Indian 2 reached theatres.
Dharman was earlier known by its working title Thalaivar173. It is expected to cast Rajinikanth as a polished doctor, with Ram Pothineni likely playing the principal antagonist. Simran Bagga, Yogi Babu and Raashii Khanna are also expected in key roles.
Why this matters for fans
Pongal is a major window for Tamil cinema, and a Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan clash would be a scheduling headache rather than a celebration. Moving Dharman would let both films breathe, while protecting the superstar’s film from opening a week before Varanasi in April. Still, everything remains at the report stage, so treat the dates as placeholders until producers confirm.
Source: PINKVILLA
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