Rajinikanth's 'Dharman' shake-up: The shocking reason a major star's rejection sparked a mass outrage

Highlights

• Ram Pothineni has reportedly joined Rajinikanth's Dharman as the antagonist.
• The role was reportedly offered to Dhruv Vikram before Ram came on board.
• The reported casting change sets up a major face-off between Rajinikanth and Ram.

Rajinikanth's Dharman has reportedly undergone a casting twist that could make its central conflict even more intriguing. Ram Pothineni is said to have joined the Tamil film in a role that would see him go up against Rajinikanth, marking a striking change of pace for an actor better known for playing leading roles.

The reported development has also revived interest in the role's casting history. According to reports, the antagonist part was first offered to Dhruv Vikram, who is said to have turned it down. The makers then reportedly approached Ram, who has now joined the second schedule of the film in Chennai.

From Dhruv Vikram to Ram Pothineni

The reported casting change gives Dharman an unexpected edge. Ram taking on the antagonist role would place him opposite Rajinikanth, creating a pairing that has not been seen before on screen.

The film is directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and is reportedly built around a conflict between a father-in-law and son-in-law. That dynamic could make the reported Rajinikanth-Ram confrontation one of the film's key dramatic elements.

According to reports, Rajinikanth has been involved with the shoot from the beginning, while Ram has now joined the cast for the latest schedule. If the reports about his role are accurate, Dharman could also give Ram an opportunity to explore a darker side of his acting.

A new chapter for Rajinikanth and Ram

Dharman marks Rajinikanth's first collaboration with Ashwath Marimuthu and also brings Ram into a project led by the superstar. Kamal Haasan is producing the film, which features Simran and Raashii Khanna in key roles.

For Rajinikanth, the film is one of several projects in the pipeline. He is also set to return as Muthuvel Pandian in Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, and is expected to collaborate with Kamal Haasan on another project.

Ram, meanwhile, is preparing for a major career shift of his own. He is set to make his directorial debut with the tentatively titled RaPo23, which is expected to be a thriller featuring Riteish Deshmukh as the antagonist.

With Ram reportedly stepping into the villain's role in Dharman, the film now has an unexpected casting hook. Whether the reported Rajinikanth-Ram face-off becomes one of the film's biggest attractions remains to be seen.