Director Shankar is preparing for his highly anticipated historical magnum opus, Velpari, and recent reports suggest that Vicky Kaushal may join Dhanush as a co-lead.
Earlier speculation indicated that Ranveer Singh might headline the project, but sources now suggest that the makers are in talks with Kaushal for the role.
Dhanush Almost Confirmed for Co-Lead
Reports also suggest that Dhanush is nearly finalized to play a co-lead in Velpari. The actor has been asked to provide call sheets covering a two-year commitment, and his final decision is still pending.
The film is based on the novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari by Su Venkatesan. It narrates the story of how the Chera, Chola, and Pandya empires attempted to overthrow the tribal king Vel Paari and the events that followed.
Shankar’s Previous Film: Game Changer
Director Shankar last helmed Game Changer, starring Ram Charan in dual roles. The political action drama focused on an honest IAS officer fighting corruption while uncovering secrets tied to his past.
The film also starred Kiara Advani, SJ Suryah, Anjali, Jayaram, Meka Srikanth, and others. Released during Sankranti 2025, Game Changer received an underwhelming response from critics and audiences and is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Shankar had earlier announced Indian 3, the sequel to Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2, but no official release update has been shared.
Upcoming Projects for Dhanush and Vicky Kaushal
Dhanush will next appear in Kara, directed by Vignesh Raja, co-starring Mamitha Baiju. The film is set to release on April 30, 2026.
Vicky Kaushal, meanwhile, will feature alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the romantic drama Love & War.
