(This article is authored by Alar)

Superstar Rajinikanth is all set to join hands with one of the most sought-after directors in Kollywood, Lokesh Kanagaraj, for his next film. The project, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 171’, has been creating a lot of buzz among the fans and the media ever since it was rumored to be in the pipeline.

Now, the news has been confirmed by none other than actor Babu Antony, who will be sharing screen space with Rajini in this film. Babu Antony is a veteran Malayalam actor who is known for his action roles. He is also part of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s upcoming film ‘Leo’, starring Thalapathy Vijay in the lead role.

Babu Antony, the Malayalam action star, has spilled the beans on his upcoming project with Lokesh Kanagaraj and Rajinikanth. The actor, who is currently shooting for Leo with Thalapathy Vijay, said he will join the sets of  Rajinikanth - Lokesh Kanagaraj's Thalaivar 171 soon after wrapping up Leo.

He also showered praises on Rajini and reminisced about their previous collaboration in the 1991 film ‘Nattukku Oru Nallavan’. The film will also mark the second collaboration of Rajini and Babu Antony after 32 years. It will be interesting to see how Lokesh Kanagaraj will showcase Rajini’s charisma and versatility in his film.

Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most successful and acclaimed filmmakers in Tamil cinema today. He has delivered back-to-back hits with his debut film ‘Maanagaram’, ‘Kaithi’ and ‘Master’. He is known for his innovative ability to handle multiple genres and star casts. He has also introduced the concept of cinematic universe to Tamil audience with his films having interlinked characters and plots.

Rajinikanth, on the other hand, is the undisputed king of box office and mass appeal. He has recently wrapped up the shooting of his daughter Aishwaryaa’s directorial venture ‘Laal Salaam’, in which he plays a cameo role as Moideen Bhai. His next release is Nelson Dilipkumar’s ‘Jailer’, which is slated to hit the screens on August 10. The film also features Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishnan, Vinayakan and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles.

The combination of Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj is expected to create magic on the silver screen. The fans are eagerly waiting for an official announcement regarding ‘Thalaivar 171’. The film is likely to be produced by Lyca Productions, who have earlier bankrolled Rajini’s films like ‘2.0’ and ‘Darbar’. 

Actor #BabuAntony Will Be A Part Of #Thalaivar171 #Rajinikanth - #LokeshKanagaraj Combopic.twitter.com/0S9qhqYfC8

— Arjun (@ArjunVcOnline) July 17, 2023