Chennai: Director Sundar C has officially announced his exit from the upcoming film ‘Thalaivar 173’, which stars Rajinikanth and is produced by Kamal Haasan. The filmmaker cited “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for stepping away from the much-anticipated collaboration.

The announcement, made public by his publicist on Thursday (November 13, 2025), created a buzz across the Tamil film industry. While his wife, actor-producer Khushbu Sundar, initially shared the statement on Instagram, the post was later deleted.

In his statement, Sundar C said, “Due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, I have made the difficult decision to step back from the prestigious project, #Thalaivar173.”

The film was set to reunite the director with Rajinikanth after nearly three decades, following their 1997 hit ‘Arunachalam’. Expressing his admiration for the legendary actor and the veteran producer, Sundar C described the collaboration as a major milestone in his career.

He said, “My association with these two icons goes back a long way, and I will always hold them in the highest regard.” Calling the opportunity to work with them “a dream come true,” he expressed his deep respect and gratitude toward both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

“I thank both of them from the bottom of my heart for considering me for this magnum opus,” the director added.

Addressing his fans and well-wishers, Sundar C expressed regret over the disappointment his departure might cause. “Please accept my sincere apologies if this news has disappointed those who had eagerly anticipated this venture,” he wrote.

‘Thalaivar 173’ remains one of the most anticipated projects in Tamil cinema, marking a rare collaboration between two of the industry’s biggest icons: Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.