PremiumExclusive | Thalapathy 68: 'Villain in the Vijay - Venkat Prabhu film will be a major surprise,' says source
Venkat Prabhu's maiden collaboration with Vijay is among the most-discussed topics on social media. In this vein, we spoke to a source close to the development about how the project is shaping up.
Last Updated: 07.33 PM, Aug 21, 2023
Needless to say that a Thalapathy Vijay project manages to capture the imagination of the general public with great ease. Even before the actor's most-awaited Leo, which sees him reuniting with his Master director Lokesh Kanagaraj, makes its way out into the world, his subsequent film, Thalapathy 68, has hit the headlines. Of course, we know that Venkat Prabhu is in charge of things this time around and keeping the filmmaker's idiosyncrasies and whimsical thoughts in mind, it's pretty safe to say that there's something exciting in the offing.
Thalapathy 68 will be produced by AGS Entertainment who have previously collaborated with Vijay on the 2019 film Bigil. The latest buzz tells us that the film will be mounted on a big scale and will boast every bit of the Venkat Prabhu vibe that we expect.
A multistarrer on the cards for Thalapathy 68
So, being the curious beings that we are, we did a bit of digging and spoke to a source close to the development in these pursuits. The lead actress of Thalapathy 68 is the current hot topic trending on social media and one quick search crops up a bunch of names, including those who are confirmed to be not part of the project. Venkat Prabhu has asserted that Samantha, Keerthy Suresh and Nayanthara will not be part of his next film, contrary to what's being reported out there.
In the same vein, one sees Priyanka Mohan's name being added to the mix and the same source reveals that while this remains unconfirmed at the moment, the Doctor and Captain Miller actress is certainly in the race, so to speak.
"Nothing's set in stone at the moment but Priyanka Mohan is being considered for a key role in Thalapathy 68. All characters are currently in the 'optional' stage as of now so one can't say what her role would be in the film. KGF 2 and Cobra actress Srinidhi Shetty, too, could be a part of it (she has approached the makers and shown interest) and so could Love Today's female lead Ivana. Since Venkat Prabhu's films often feature an ensemble cast and it isn't necessary that an actor is boxed into a particular kind of role, you can always expect a surprise from his end. In short, a multistarrer is on the cards," says the source.
Vijay's old co-star Jyothika to play a major role?
Another exciting prospect, it seems, is the involvement of popular actress Jyothika in Thalapathy 68. Jyothika and Vijay have previously worked in Kushi and Thirumalai with the former film being a cult favourite among fans who are now keenly looking forward to their reunion on the big screen.
What genre would the Vijay - Venkat Prabhu collaboration fall under? "It's best described as a 'fun action' film but we all know Venkat Prabhu imbues his films with his trademark quirks. Also, no two of his films are similar in terms of tone or genre - would you call Mankatha an Ajith film or a Venkat Prabhu film? Of course, there's the aura of the superstar but the director's stamp is prominent on it, isn't it? Same way, you can expect Thalapathy 68 to be a blend of styles of both the actor and the director," shares the source.
"The villain will be a major highlight of the film"
As in the past, our source also tells us that Thalapathy 68 will feature a great antagonist, with a very popular name likely to essay that part. "You saw SJ Suriyah sir do a great job in Maanadu, Aravind Swamy sir in Custody so, expect someone well-known to play the villain to Vijay sir's protagonist. Of course, I cannot reveal that name just as yet because it's a major deal, but do believe that it will catch everyone's attention when it's out," adds the source.