(This article is authored by Alar)

Dhanush, the actor, director, producer, singer and lyricist, turns 40 today (July 28). He is one of the most popular and successful stars in Tamil cinema, who has also made his mark in Bollywood and Hollywood. From his debut film Thulluvadho Ilamai in 2002 to his latest release Vaathi in 2023, he has showcased his versatility and talent in a variety of roles and genres. He has won four National Film Awards, two as an actor and two as a producer, and numerous other accolades for his work.

Dhanush is a phenomenon who has a huge fan following across the country and abroad, thanks to his viral songs like “Why This Kolaveri Di” and “Rowdy Baby”, which have crossed over a billion views on YouTube. He has also collaborated with some of the best filmmakers in the industry, such as Vetrimaaran, Aanand L. Rai, Mari Selvaraj and Karthik Subbaraj. He has also ventured into international cinema with films like The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir and The Gray Man.

As he celebrates his birthday today, let’s take a look at some of his upcoming projects that are sure to excite his fans.

Captain Miller

This is a crime thriller directed by Arun Matheswaran, who made his debut with Rocky in 2019. Dhanush plays the titular role of Captain Miller,  a revolutionary leader who is wanted by the British authorities, and Priyanka Arul Mohan plays the lead along the versatile star. Dhanush intrigues with the teaser as he is seen wielding guns, swords and bombs as he fights against the colonial oppressors. The film will hit theatres by 14th December 2023.

D50

This is Dhanush’s second directorial venture after Pa Paandi in 2017. He also plays the lead role in this film, which is said to be a romantic drama with a twist. The film also features Sundeep Kishan, Dushara Vijayan, Vishnu Vishal, Kalidas Jayaram and SJ Suryah in pivotal roles, and will have screenplay by Mithran Jawahar, and music will be The film is currently in the post-production stage and is likely to launch within next year.

D51

This is Dhanush’s second Telugu film after Vaathi this year. He teams up with acclaimed director Sekhar Kammula for this trilingual project, which will also be made in Tamil. The film is touted to be a romantic entertainer with a social message. The film also stars Sai Pallavi as the female lead, who had earlier shared screen space with Dhanush in Maari 2. The film is slated to go on floors soon.

Vadachennai 2

This is the sequel to the 2018 gangster epic Vadachennai, directed by Vetrimaaran. Dhanush reprises his role as Anbu, a carrom player who gets entangled in the underworld politics of North Chennai. The film also stars Aishwarya Rajesh, Andrea Jeremiah, Samuthirakani and Kishore among others. The film is expected to resume shooting once the director completes his production duties with Viduthalai 2, and Vaadivaasal.

Tere Ishq Mein

This is Dhanush’s fourth Hindi film after Raanjhanaa, Shamitabh and Atrangi Re and he reunites with Aanand L. Rai for this romantic drama for the third time. The film is said to be a spin off of the previous hit Raanjhanna, which starred Sonam Kapoor in the lead role. The film is currently under production and is scheduled to kickstart soon. The film will also have the music composed by AR Rahman.

Untitled project with Mari Selvaraj

This is Dhanush’s second collaboration with Mari Selvaraj after Karnan, which was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film that released earlier this year. The film is said to be based on a novel by writer Jeyamohan, who had also penned the dialogues for Karnan. The film is yet to be officially announced, but it is expected to go on floors soon.