Rajini to sign new film; politics on backburner?

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth is in talks with ace director A R Murugadoss for a new film, raising questions about his yet-to-be-launched political party and his stand during the 2019 general elections.

Multiple sources confirmed that Rajinikanth is seriously considering launching his next project after Petta, the latest movie produced by Sun Pictures, hits theatres in January, and is in talks with Murugadoss, who has dropped hints about working with the superstar.

"Initial talks have been launched. But no agreement has been reached so far," a source in the know-how of the development told DH.

But, Murugadoss has given clear hints that the work on his movie with Rajinikanth has begun. He also clarified that it will not be a political film.

"My next film with Rajini sir will not be a political film, but it will be a mass entertainer for sure, satisfying all types of audiences. I have been his fan for a very long time and it will be my dream project," he said at an awards function earlier this week.

Rajinikanth has acted in three films — Kaala, 2.0 and Petta — after he announced his political entry on December 31, 2017. Though the Tamil superstar has held meetings with his fans and has converted his fans clubs into welfare organisations, there has been no concrete development on his political party.

The timing of Rajinikanth's talks for another movie is significant as the BJP is pinning hopes on his yet-to-be-launched party to fight the Lok Sabha polls.

Though Rajinikanth has said that his party would only contest the Assembly elections, the BJP is hoping to elicit his support for the 2019 polls to make inroads into Tamil Nadu.

If the shooting for the movie begins in February, Rajinikanth would be busy for the next three months making it difficult for him to extend support to any party during the general elections.

Though considered close to BJP, the actor had said that the loss in Assembly elections had showed that the saffron party was "losing its influence".