Ahead of Kaantha release, Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati deny the film is a biopic of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar: 'It is fully fictional'

Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati are busy with promotional interviews of their upcoming film Kaantha, which is touted to be a period film based on a yesteryear superstar. The Selvamani Selvaraj directorial is widely believed to be the biopic of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first superstar of Tamil cinema. However, in a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Dulquer and Rana have refused to term the film a biopic.

Dulquer, Rana deny Kaantha biopic claims

Dulquer, who has seen a string of successes with period films such as Sita Ramam and Lucky Baskhar, will be seen as TK Mahadevan in the upcoming film Kaantha, which he insists is not a biopic. Rana too denies Kaantha being a biopic, while saying, "There will be some loose ideas from different stories that we have heard... but it is a fully fictional film."

Also read: Kaantha: Who is MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Dulquer Salmaan’s role model, Tamil cinema’s first superstar whose film ran for three years

They both categorically stated it is not another Mahanati (the 2018 biopic on the actress Savitri, which also featured Dulquer Salmaan as the iconic actor Gemini Ganesan).

During the interview, Dulquer further emphasised that it is not a biopic of MK (Thyagaraja) Bhagavathar. Rana explained that this probably would make you feel that this is what happened with X yesteryear star or how stars of that time lived.

Also read: Kaantha: Did Dulquer Salmaan almost have a fallout with Rana Daggubati? ‘Are we gonna get legal on each other' 

What is the plot of Kaantha

The film, written by Tamizh Prabha and director Selvamani Selvaraj, chronicles the tale of TK Mahadevan, who goes on to become a star. Kaantha depicts his rise and the relationship with a renowned filmmaker who first helped Mahadevan achieve stardom. Kaantha is set in the 1950s Madras and will depict the happenings in the Tamil film industry of that era.

Samuthirakani plays the famed director Ayya, and Rana Daggubati will be seen as a police inspector in the film, which has Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead Kumari. Kaantha will release in theatres on November 14, 2025, in multiple languages, including Telugu and Hindi.

FAQs

Q. Is Kaantha a biopic?

A. Kaantha has not been explicitly mentioned to be a biopic, but stars Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati have rejected claims that it is based on the life of Tamil superstar MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar.

Q. What is Kaantha about?

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

Q. Does dq have 100 crore movies?

A. DQ's movie Lucky Baskhar, in which he played the lead role, had grossed over Rs 100 crore, as per trade trackers. His recent production venture Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, had amassed over Rs 300 crore