Kamal Haasan has several projects in different stages of development, and his birthday celebrations have brought another exciting update for fans. On Saturday, the makers of his upcoming film with filmmaker SU Arun Kumar unveiled a new poster, while also confirming that the film’s shooting had commenced. Titled Sandiyar, the project was officially announced on Friday, with the title immediately drawing attention for its connection to one of Kamal’s earlier films, Virumaandi (2004).
The newly released poster presents Kamal Haasan in an intense avatar, holding a pistol and sporting a fierce expression. The visual offers a glimpse of the action-oriented world that the film could explore, although the makers have not revealed any details about its storyline yet. Accompanying the poster, the production team shared a special birthday message that also confirmed the beginning of the shoot.
“6 ROUNDS, ZERO MERCY. Revenge does give satisfaction, but… Happy Birthday to our SANDIYAR! SHOOT BEGINS TODAY.”
With filming now underway, further announcements regarding the film’s supporting cast, characters and narrative are expected in the coming months.
Sandiyar marks Kamal Haasan’s first collaboration with SU Arun Kumar
One of the more interesting aspects of the project is the coming together of Kamal Haasan and SU Arun Kumar. The filmmaker has steadily established himself as a director capable of exploring different genres, with his previous works featuring contrasting storytelling styles and characters.
Sandiyar will be his sixth directorial venture. Arun Kumar made his debut with the Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Pannaiyarum Padminiyum (2014), a comedy-drama that received appreciation for its gentle storytelling. He subsequently reunited with Vijay Sethupathi for the action thriller Sethupathi (2016) and Sindhubaadh (2019). While the former showcased the actor in a police avatar, the latter explored a different space with its action-driven narrative.
The filmmaker then moved away from his collaborations with Vijay Sethupathi to direct Siddharth in Chiththa (2023). The emotionally layered drama earned considerable critical appreciation for its sensitive treatment of a difficult subject. His most recent directorial outing was Veera Dheera Sooran (2025), starring Vikram. The film further demonstrated his interest in combining character-driven storytelling with commercial elements.
Sandiyar now brings him together with one of Indian cinema’s most versatile performers. Although the makers have kept the film’s premise under wraps, the title and first-look poster suggest a project that could offer Kamal Haasan another opportunity to explore an intense character.
The film is being produced by Kamal Haasan under his Raaj Kamal Films International banner, with R Mahendran serving as co-producer. Anirudh Ravichander has been roped in as the composer, marking another collaboration with Kamal following Vikram (2022) and Indian 2 (2024). The technical team also includes cinematographer Sunil KS, production designer CS Balachander and stunt choreographers Anbariv.
Kamal Haasan’s upcoming projects include reunion with Rajinikanth
Apart from Sandiyar, Kamal Haasan has several interesting projects lined up, both as an actor and a producer. Among the most anticipated is his upcoming reunion with Rajinikanth, which will bring the two celebrated actors together on screen after their appearance in Ninaithale Inikkum (1979). The yet-to-be-titled film will be directed by Nelson, known for his work in Doctor, Beast and Jailer. The project has already generated considerable interest, given the rarity of seeing the two legends share screen space.
Kamal is also expected to return to the Indian franchise with Shankar’s Indian 3, the next instalment in the vigilante action series. Meanwhile, he is backing another Rajinikanth-led project, Dharman, which will be directed by Ashwath Marimuthu. Interestingly, Anirudh is composing the music for these projects as well, making him an important creative collaborator across several of Kamal’s upcoming ventures.
The actor-producer is also supporting Seyon, the sophomore directorial venture of Sivakumar Murugesan, who made his debut with Thaai Kizhavi. The upcoming film features Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, alongside Bhagyashri Borse, Raj B Shetty and Seeman.
With Sandiyar now officially on floors, Kamal Haasan’s birthday has provided fans with another significant update about his packed slate. While details about the film remain limited, the combination of Kamal Haasan, SU Arun Kumar and Anirudh makes it an intriguing addition to the actor’s upcoming projects.
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