Kaantha actor Dulquer Salmaan says he feared being replaced: We had invested so much and was afraid…

Kaantha: The film, inspired by Tamil cinema's first superstar MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, explores the clash between an actor and director in 1950s Madras

Kaantha

The Kaantha trailer launch took place on Thursday, with actors Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati and others in attendance for the Chennai event. The film, yet another period drama offering from Dulquer Salmaan, is set to release in theatres on November 14, and ahead of it, Dulquer spoke about how Kaantha is not a typical film.

Kaantha trailer: Dulquer Salmaan says it’s not a typical film

The trailer of Kaantha was released at an event held in Chennai on Thursday. The period drama will take you back to the Madras of the 1950s, to the sets of a Tamil film, with Dulquer’s character to be based on Tamil superstar, MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar.

Also read: Kaantha trailer: Forget Gemini Ganesan from Mahanati, Dulquer Salmaan yet again aces playing a Tamil superstar; promising drama of egoistic clash

Speaking at the trailer launch, Dulquer Salmaan expressed how, at one point, he thought if this film would ever be made, given they had been travelling with the film for a minimum of five years. "We have been doing this for about 5 years. I have never done so much script meetings as much as I did for Kaantha. I would have committed about 8-10 films in that time. A meeting for Kaantha is not any less than five hours, and we had about 10-12 meetings. I fought with everyone, but it is not a typical film. There is a destiny for this film, and only the film will decide who, when and how it will shape up. However, I was very scared if I would be changed and cast someone else. Because we had invested so much, and was afraid if we will ever make it."

Also read: Most-anticipated Tamil theatrical releases of November 2025: Dulquer Salmaan’s Kaantha to Kavin-starrer Mask

Kaantha release date:

Kaantha is set to release in theatres on November 14. The film will release primarily in Tamil and Telugu, with both Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati as producers. The cast of Kaantha also includes Bhagyashri Borse, Samuthirakani, and Rana Daggubati, among others. Said to be based on the life of Tamil cinema’s first superstar, MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the film is helmed by Selvamani Selvaraj, shot by Dani Sanchez Lopez and edited by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalvez. Jhanu Chanthar is the music composer.

FAQs

Q. What is Kaantha about?

A. Kaantha is a period drama set in 1950s Madras, about the ego clash between an actor and director on the sets of a film.

Q. Is Kaantha a true story?

A. Kaantha is said to be inspired by the life events of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, who is known to be the first superstar of Tamil cinema.

Q. Is Kaantha a biopic?

A. Kaantha has not been explicitly mentioned to be a biopic, but based on the life of Tamil superstar MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar.

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