Rumours have been rife about a potential collaboration between Rajinikanth and Mani Ratnam after the latter wraps his film, Thug Life, with Kamal Haasan. The actor and the director have not worked together since 1991’s Thalapathi, so fans have been buzzing about their collaboration ever since the rumours started to circulate online. However, the filmmaker's wife, Suhasini Maniratnam has quashed the speculation in an interview with News18.

“No, I don’t think even Rajinikanth and Mani know about it (laughs). It’s only people who’re writing about it,” stated Suhasini, who now stars in the Malayalam series Jai Mahendran on SonyLIV.

Suhasini also discussed the place for young actors in South Indian cinema.

“I’m worried about the young male actors. Between the Malayalam and Tamil film industries, our youngest top hero is 41 years old! I’m talking about Dhanush. What happened to all the Karthiks, the Prabhus, and the Mohans in the Tamil film industry?”

She went on to add, “They did so well in their 20s, but today’s actors in their 20s are losing out on their prime years. They aren’t being noticed or offered good stories. Ashok Selvan, only now, is penetrating and coming forward. As for Harish Kalyan, only two of his films have done well, Lubber Pandhu and Parking. There’s no place for young male actors in Tamil cinema. Fans are going for films of actors who are above 40.”

The actor also opined that viewers play a part in this trend. She stated, “The movie-going public is predominantly men. 90 per cent of them are men. They decide who’s important and whose films should work. Unless women start going for the night shows and these shows are filled by women, this trend of superheroes holding onto their positions will continue.”