Aishwarya Rajinikanth's New Directorial Venture: A Reunion with Yuvan Shankar Raja

Aishwarya Rajinikanth is set to direct a new film, marking her first project since the challenges of Lal Salaam. This film will see her reuniting with composer Yuvan Shankar Raja after 11 years. The project, backed by Kannan Ravi Group, aims for a grand multilingual release, although details about the title, cast, and plot are still undisclosed. Aishwarya's previous film faced significant hurdles, impacting its success. Meanwhile, she and ex-husband Dhanush recently celebrated their son's graduation, showcasing their continued co-parenting relationship.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 27, 2026, 12:39 IST

Aishwarya Rajinikanth Prepares for Her Next Film

Aishwarya Rajinikanth is set to embark on her next directorial project, marking her return after the challenges faced with Lal Salaam. This upcoming film will see her collaborating once again with composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, nearly 11 years since their last joint effort on Vai Raja Vai. The film is being produced by Kannan Ravi Group and is intended to be a grand multilingual release, spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. While the creators promise a captivating and entertaining experience, details regarding the title, cast, storyline, and genre remain undisclosed.

Collaboration with Yuvan Shankar Raja

Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Yuvan Shankar Raja Reunite After 11 Years

The new project is being supported by Kannan Ravi Group, known for their recent success with the Pongal hit Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil, featuring Jiiva. On Friday, it was officially announced that Yuvan Shankar Raja will be composing the music, marking their second collaboration following Vai Raja Vai (2015), which starred Gautham Karthik and Priya Anand.

The production team emphasized the importance of this project, stating, "We believe that cinema flourishes through meaningful partnerships, as filmmaking is a collective art driven by shared vision, passion, and trust. We are excited to work with Ms. Aishwarya Rajinikanth for Production No. 9 and aim to create something memorable for audiences across India." Yuvan Shankar Raja's recent projects include the album for Kombuseevi, along with several upcoming films such as Ram’s Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai, Jiiva and M Rajesh’s Jolliya Iruntha Oruthan, and Silambarasan’s STR 50 directed by Desingh Periyasamy.

Aishwarya Rajinikanth's Return to Direction

Aishwarya Rajinikanth Returns to Direction After Lal Salaam Challenges

Aishwarya Rajinikanth faced significant hurdles during the production of Lal Salaam, which led to controversies even prior to its release. A hard drive containing essential scenes went missing, compelling the team to rely on the remaining footage. Aishwarya mentioned that the loss of 21 days of footage adversely impacted the film’s narrative and overall execution.

Released on February 9, 2024, Lal Salaam garnered mixed to negative reviews from critics and managed to earn only Rs 19 crore against a production budget of Rs 80–90 crore. Aishwarya's directorial journey began with the psychological drama 3 (2012), followed by Vai Raja Vai (2015) and Lal Salaam (2024). She also directed the documentary Cinema Veeran (2017), which highlighted the lives of stunt performers in Tamil cinema.

On a personal note, Aishwarya and Dhanush recently celebrated a significant milestone as their eldest son, Yathra, graduated from school. Dhanush shared touching moments from the ceremony on Instagram, including a heartfelt hug with Yathra. The couple, who married in 2004 and separated in 2022, continue to co-parent their sons, Yathra and Linga, and often share family moments on social media.