CHENNAI — Director S. Shankar, known for skipping film launch events unless deeply invested, turned heads by attending the pooja for Dhanush’s D55 in person. The move ignited rumors about Dhanush joining Shankar’s ambitious Velpari, a project seeking a lead after earlier links to Ranveer Singh and Chiyaan Vikram fell through.

Reports from Valai Pechu claim Shankar’s presence at the D55 ceremony on Thursday stemmed from discussions about casting Dhanush in Velpari. Neither Shankar’s team nor Dhanush’s camp has confirmed the talks. In Tamil cinema circles, such personal appearances signal serious intent.

Velpari adapts Su. Venkatesan’s novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari, centering on a tribal king who challenges three ancient empires. Shankar has described the film’s scale as rivaling global blockbusters, blending epic visuals with social themes typical of his work on films like Anniyan and 2.0.

Dhanush, 40, brings mass appeal and critical praise from hits like Asuran and Vada Chennai. A collaboration with Shankar would mark a milestone, pairing the director’s spectacle with Dhanush’s grounded intensity. Past buzz around Ranveer Singh and Vikram never led to deals, leaving the lead role open.

Dhanush faces a crowded schedule before any Velpari commitment. He produces and stars in D55, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, with Mammootty, Sreeleela and Sai Pallavi in the cast. Production on that film kicked off this week. Next up is Kara, helmed by Vignesh Raja of Por Thozhil fame, featuring Mamitha Baiju, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Jayaram. It eyes a summer 2026 release.

Shankar announced Velpari years ago, but pre-production dragged amid casting shifts. The director recently wrapped post-production on other ventures, freeing bandwidth for this passion project. Dhanush, fresh off Rajakumara in Kannada, juggles Tamil, Telugu and beyond.

Fans await official word. Shankar’s track record—Nayak grossed over 100 crore rupees in 2001, Sivaji topped 150 crore in 2007—sets high expectations. Velpari could redefine Tamil epics if Dhanush signs on.