Ram Pothineni Rumoured as Antagonist Opposite Rajinikanth in ‘Dharman’

Telugu actor Ram Pothineni is reportedly in talks to play a key negative role opposite Rajinikanth in the upcoming Tamil action thriller ‘Dharman’, directed by Ashwath Marimuthu. While the actor’s casting has not been officially confirmed, multiple reports suggest he could portray a character who locks horns with Rajinikanth’s protagonist.

Some Telugu reports have gone further, claiming that Ram could play Rajinikanth’s son-in-law, with Raashii Khanna reportedly paired with him. If true, the film could feature a father-in-law-versus-son-in-law conflict at the heart of its story. However, these character and relationship details remain speculative, and the makers have yet to issue an official confirmation.

‘Dharman’, also known as ‘Dharman: The Deadly Doctor’, is Rajinikanth’s 173rd film and is backed by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International. The film went on floors on June 25 and has now moved into its second shooting schedule in Chennai.

The project features Simran as the female lead, marking her reunion with Rajinikanth after Petta (2019). Raashii Khanna is also part of the cast. Reports have additionally linked Mysskin and Rukmini Vasanth to the project, although their involvement has not been officially confirmed. Meenakshi Chaudhary has also been reported to be in consideration for a key role.

The film’s first-look poster presented Rajinikanth in a striking doctor avatar, standing inside an operation theatre while holding a surgical instrument, accompanied by the tagline ‘The Deadly Doctor’. The look has fuelled curiosity about the nature of his character and the film’s action-driven storyline.

On the technical front, Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music, while Niketh Bommi is handling cinematography and Pradeep E Ragav is the editor. Popular action choreographer duo Anbariv are also part of the technical team.

‘Dharman’ has already generated considerable buzz because of its combination of Rajinikanth’s star power, Ashwath Marimuthu’s direction and Kamal Haasan’s production. The film is expected to target a Pongal 2027 release, although the makers have not yet announced a specific release date.

For Ram Pothineni, whose career has largely been built in Telugu cinema, a major role alongside Rajinikanth would mark a significant entry into the Tamil film industry. For now, however, his reported casting and character remain subject to official confirmation.