Kamal Haasan And Mani Ratnam Kick Off Filming For Thug Life

The dynamic duo of Kamal Haasan and acclaimed director Mani Ratnam are reuniting after 35 years for the highly awaited film, Thug Life. The film, announced months ago, officially commenced its shooting on January 24, as revealed in a video released by the creators. The clip was shared on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) and the caption read, “Day 1 is here! Join us in the excitement as Thug Life’s shoot begins, paving the way for an unforgettable journey.”

The pre-production work for Thug Life had been underway for several months, building anticipation among fans who have been eagerly awaiting the collaboration between Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam since their last venture together in the iconic 1987 film, Nayakan.

The latest update on the project took the excitement to a whole new level as the makers, taking to social media, announced that Thug Life has officially gone on floors. The post also unveiled the names of the final star-studded cast, including Jayam Ravi, Dulquer Salmaan, Gautham Karthik, Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, and Aishwarya Lekshmi.

The film’s teaser, released on November 6th, dropped some intriguing details, with Kamal Haasan stepping into the shoes of Rangaraja Sakthivel Naicker, a character described as a hardened gangster. As per Pinkvilla, rumours have also been circulating, suggesting that Dulquer Salmaan might essay the role of a district collector, though no official confirmation has been provided regarding this speculation.

Beyond the captivating narrative and stellar cast, Thug Life boasts heavyweights in its production crew. Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam are not only leading on-screen but are also the driving forces behind the film, producing it under the banners of Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, respectively.

The musical genius AR Rahman will compose the film’s music, with Ravi C Chandran handling the cinematography. Renowned editor Sreekar Prasad and stunt choreographer Anbariv Masters are also integral parts of the crew.

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan is keeping himself busy with an impressive lineup of projects. Apart from Thug Life, he is set to portray the antagonist in Nag Ashwin’s science fiction film, Kalki 2898 AD, alongside stars like Deepika Padukone, Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. Additionally, Haasan is reprising his iconic role as Senapathy in Shankar’s upcoming film Indian 2, featuring an ensemble cast.

Kamal Haasan is also involved in H Vinoth’s upcoming project, tentatively titled KH233, and recently announced his participation in the directorial debut of stunt choreographer Anbariv.