DYK THIS director was initially set to direct Vijay’s last film

Thalapathy Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, has been the subject of much speculation, especially with the actor’s potential entry into politics. However, an interesting revelation has come from filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj. In a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Subbaraj shared that he was initially considered to direct Vijay’s swan song before H. Vinoth was chosen.

Speaking openly, Karthik Subbaraj discussed the missed opportunity of working with Vijay on Jana Nayagan. “I had pitched multiple scripts to Vijay over the years, but never worked out,” Subbaraj said. He went on to explain that although he had tried to collaborate with the actor several times, none of the scripts were successful. He also revealed an attempt to pitch for Thalapathy 69, a project that would later become Jana Nayagan, but by that time, Vijay had already settled on H. Vinoth as the director.

While Vijay’s final film will showcase his transformation from a cinematic hero to a political figure, Subbaraj’s comments offer a glimpse into the untold stories of behind-the-scenes decisions in the film industry. Jana Nayagan is a political action thriller that will feature Vijay’s evolution as an actor and his shift toward public service. The film is slated for release on January 9, 2026, and has sparked rumors of a possible Netflix collaboration.

Subbaraj has also been in the news for his upcoming film Retro, which stars Suriya. Though there were rumors that Retro was originally written for Vijay, Subbaraj clarified that these claims are false. Retro is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2025, and will compete with HIT 3, a film in the popular cop thriller series.