3 Nov – Lokesh Kanagaraj hopes to highlight the more antagonistic side of Rajinikanth in their upcoming collaboration that will mark the superstar's 171st film. The filmmaker, who was asked about the upcoming project, currently dubbed "Thalaivar 171", shared that the "Padayappa" has always had a larger-than-life personality on the big screen, which is something that he finds satisfying. "From kids to old people, everyone will start screaming. For example, in Muthu, he enters by doing multiple flips in the air and lands on the chariot. Then he looks at the camera and salutes. Without thinking about the logic of it all, we hoot. That's something that he can do," he said.
However, when asked what he would do for the larger-than-life character, Lokesh stated, "Personally, what I love about Rajini sir is his villainism. I am going to show that side as much as I can." Sharing that the story for the movie was written as early as 2016, the director stated that it will be an experimental and standalone film, detached from his Lokesh Cinematic Universe. While Lokesh is currently in the preproduction stage for the 2024 filming period, Rajinikanth himself is currently filming his 170th film, which is directed by TJ Gnanavel and co-stars Amitabh Bachchan and Fahadh Faasil.