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Director Shankar, who once ruled the box office with a string of blockbuster hits, is currently facing a challenging phase in his career. His recent projects, Indian 2 starring Kamal Haasan and Game Changer featuring Ram Charan, both came with high expectations but failed to meet audience and critical acclaim. As he navigates through these setbacks, Shankar is focusing more on script development, including a new project titled Velpaari, while also deciding the future of the unfinished Indian 3.

Amidst these professional ups and downs, attention has turned towards his family’s next generation. His daughter, Aditi Shankar, has steadily built her career in Tamil and Telugu cinema. Now, his son Arjith Shankar is gearing up to make his debut as a lead actor, a move that has been in the works for some time.

Arjith has invested years in honing his craft, training intensively in acting, working behind the scenes with director A.R. Murugadoss on the film Madharasi, and even joining the crew of Game Changer. He also made a brief appearance in a dance sequence in Indian 2.

His debut film is slated to be directed by Siva, a former assistant of director Atlee, and produced by Passion Studios. The film is planned as a youthful entertainer blending romance and action. Shooting is expected to commence after Dasara, with a potential release in late 2026. The female lead is yet to be finalized, with Preity Mukundhan currently in talks, though there’s a possibility of casting a newcomer. On the music front, Jen Martin and Sai Abhyankkar are being considered, with A.R. Rahman’s involvement still under budget discussions.

The Tamil film industry has shown openness to launching star kids with mid-budget, content-driven scripts rather than overwhelming them with mega projects. If this debut succeeds, Arjith could establish himself on his own merits without the pressure of his father’s legacy.

For Shankar, 2025 may be more about supporting his son’s launch than his own projects. The official announcement is expected soon, and the industry will be closely watching—if Arjith makes a strong entry, it could mark a rare success linked to the Shankar name in recent times.