Thug Life marks Kamal Haasan's second collaboration with Mani Ratnam after Nayakan in 1987. Kamal Haasan is gearing up for his upcoming film Thug Life , scheduled to hit theatres on June 5, 2025. The actor recently revealed certain details about Thug Life and the similarity to his iconic film Nayakan.
When discussing the film, Haasan was careful not to say too much about the film and mentioned that director Mani Ratnam was concerned that divulging details may impact the audience’s experience. In a recent public appearance, he said, “In Nayakan, there was a question about whether the protagonist is a good person or bad." “Similarly, Thug Life explores the same theme.
Even after watching the movie, you might realise that the protagonist is a mix of both good and evil," the actor added. For the unversed, Nayakan was released in the year 1987 and was the first collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan. Alongside Haasan, the film also featured an ensemble cast including Saranya, Delhi Ganesh, Karthika, Nizhalgal Ravi, Nassar, Tinnu Anand and others in pivotal roles.
The film chronicled the story of Sakthivel Naicker, a gangster. He began as a slum dweller and rose to become one of the most respected crime lords, who is loved and respected by many. It was based on the life of Bombay underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar and was inspired by the Hollywood classic The Godfather.
Releasing in 2025, Thug Life marks the second collaboration between the legendary actor-direct.