Mumbai: Director S. Shankar is preparing for one of the most ambitious films of his career with Velpari, a grand historical drama inspired by the popular Tamil novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari written by Su Venkatesan. The film industry is already experiencing a lot of buzz surrounding the project and people are now interested in a new update that concerns the casting.
Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal is reportedly in talks with the makers to star in one of the lead roles in the film. The initial assumption was that Ranveer Singh would play the lead role in the project, but now, it seems that Vicky is the one the makers are thinking of gazing upon. Nonetheless, it is yet to be officially announced.
Dhanush almost confirmed for a key role
The same reports also suggest that Dhanush is close to being finalised as the film’s co lead. Director Shankar has reportedly requested the actor to allocate call sheets for nearly two years due to the scale and timeline of the production. Dhanush has not yet confirmed his availability, but discussions are ongoing.
Velpari will make the legend of the tribal king Vel Paari come alive. The story revolves around the tussle between the mighty Chera, Chola and Pandya empires and the brave ruler who was unassailable in his efforts to resist the efforts by them to take possession of his territory. The movie is projected to be mounted on a massive scale with a powerful historical and cultural aspect.
Shankar’s last release and upcoming plans
Before starting work on Velpari, Shankar directed Game Changer, starring Ram Charan in a dual role alongside Kiara Advani, S. J. Suryah, Anjali, Jayaram and Meka Srikanth. The political action drama followed an honest IAS officer fighting corruption in the system while uncovering secrets tied to his past. The film released during the Sankranti 2025 festive period but received a mixed response from audiences and critics. It is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Shankar had also previously announced Indian 3, the next chapter in the franchise led by Kamal Haasan, though there has been no major update on its release timeline.
What’s next for Dhanush and Vicky Kaushal
Meanwhile, Dhanush is preparing for the release of Kara, directed by Vignesh Raja and co starring Mamitha Baiju. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on April 30, 2026.
Vicky Kaushal, on the other hand, will also feature in Love and War soon with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
Provided the casting meetings are successful, Velpari might have a formidable lineup of talent globally, and Shankar will have one of the most awaited mega films in years to come.
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