Dulquer Salmaan publicly declared himself a fan of co-star Kathir at the pre-release event of their upcoming film 'I'm Game' in Chennai on 2 September, calling the Tamil actor a 'born talent' whose on-screen performances feel effortlessly natural. The pan-Indian action entertainer, directed by Nahas Hidhayath and produced under Wayfarer Films, is set to release worldwide on 3 September.

Dulquer's praise for Kathir

Speaking at the Chennai event, Dulquer Salmaan addressed his co-star directly: 'Kathir bro, I'm such a fan. What do you say, a born talent you are!' Turning to the audience, he elaborated: 'Every time he performs, I find it so subtle and so intense. It doesn't look like he puts any effort. It looks so effortless.'

Dulquer also responded to Kathir's self-deprecating remarks about his cricket skills, saying: 'You might think your cricket is not good, but you're phenomenal in the film. You're absolutely convincing as our captain.'

Kathir's candid confession about cricket

Kathir, who portrays a cricket team captain in 'I'm Game', was candid about his limited experience with the sport. He revealed that after Nahas Hidhayath narrated the script to him, his immediate reaction was one of disbelief — having played cricket a maximum of four times in his life, and only pad cricket at school level. 'I told Nahas, I would have played cricket a maximum of four times in my entire life,' Kathir said with a laugh.

Kathir also quipped that he would be 'retiring from cricket' after the film, explaining with a smile: 'This is like a legacy. I cannot play any better than what I have in this film.' He further remarked that while a director can have courage and take risks, trusting him to captain a cricket team on screen was a particularly bold call.

Censor clearance and release details

The Central Board of Film Certification has cleared 'I'm Game' for release with a UA 16+ certificate. Wayfarer Films announced the clearance on its social media channels, writing: 'No more waiting around — the dice have rolled! I'M GAME has bagged its U/A 16+ certificate and is officially theater-bound. Bookings open at 5 PM.'

The film was originally scheduled to release on 20 August but was postponed to 3 September to facilitate a wider theatrical rollout. Announcing the change, Dulquer Salmaan had said: 'The game gets bigger. The release gets wider... #imgame will now release worldwide on 3rd September, moving from its earlier release date of 20th August.' He added that the new date was chosen to give the film 'the scale, reach, and theatrical platform it truly deserves.'

About the film

'I'm Game' marks Dulquer Salmaan's return to Malayalam cinema and has been mounted on an ambitious scale, completing an extensive 11-month shooting schedule spanning 156 days across more than 100 locations in South India. The film features an ensemble cast including Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Parth Tiwari, and Samyuktha Viswanathan. Music has been composed by Jakes Bejoy, while action sequences were choreographed by Anbariv Masters. The film will release simultaneously in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.

With its multilingual release strategy and a high-profile ensemble, 'I'm Game' is one of the more keenly anticipated pan-Indian releases of the season.