Chennai, Feb 24 (NationPress) Director Cibi Chakravarthy has officially announced that the filming of the highly anticipated movie tentatively titled #Thalaivar173, featuring the legendary Superstar Rajinikanth, is set to kick off in mid-April this year.

During a recent promotional event for 'Thaai Kelavi', produced by Sivakarthikeyan's SK Productions, Chakravarthy was queried about the progress of #Thalaivar173 following his speech.

The director, who had previously been tight-lipped about details, shared, "I will soon be saying 'action' and 'cut' to the Superstar. Our filming is scheduled to start in mid-April this year."

Chakravarthy has made a vow to both the fans of Rajinikanth and his family regarding the film's outcome.

Having attended the pre-release event of Soundarya Rajinikanth's 'With Love', he remarked, "This is my first interaction with you since the announcement of #Thalaivar173. I want to express something important here."

"As a dedicated fan of Thalaivar, I assure you that when you leave the theatres after watching #Thalaivar173, you will do so with immense satisfaction. I promise you that," he added.

Recently, Rajinikanth himself commented on this upcoming film, being produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International. He mentioned, "The shooting is set to begin in April this year, and it will be a true commercial entertainer."

This film has generated buzz ever since Kamal Haasan declared his production house would take on this project.

Initially, the film was supposed to be helmed by one of Tamil cinema's top directors, Sundar C, who had described it as a magnum opus. However, he unexpectedly withdrew from the project.

In his heartfelt statement titled "A Heartfelt Note to My Dearest Fans and Well-Wishers", Sundar C stated, "It is with a heavy heart that I share some significant news. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have made the tough choice to step away from the prestigious #Thalaivar173 project."

He went on to express, "This film, featuring the iconic Superstar Rajinikanth and produced by the esteemed Kamal Haasan, was a dream for me. Life often leads us down unexpected paths, even if they differ from our aspirations."

Sundar C reflected on his long-standing connection with the two stars, stating, "I will always hold both in the highest esteem. The memories we’ve created over the past few days will forever remain special to me. They have imparted invaluable lessons, and I will continue to draw inspiration from them."

Despite stepping back, he indicated his commitment to seek guidance from both industry giants.

He expressed gratitude to the superstars, saying, "I thank you both sincerely for considering me for this monumental project," before addressing his fans, saying, "I apologize if this news has disappointed those eagerly awaiting this film. I am determined to keep delivering entertainment that uplifts your spirits. Your unwavering support means everything to me, and I look forward to creating more memorable experiences together."

Following Sundar C's exit, it was confirmed that Cibi Chakravarthy would take over the direction of the film, which is set to feature music by Anirudh and carries the tagline 'Every family has a hero'.