Ajith Kumar's iconic action-thriller Mankatha is reportedly gearing up for a grand re-release in January 2026, exciting fans. The 2011 blockbuster, directed by Venkat Prabhu, is considered a defining film in Ajith's career, where he plays the morally ambiguous anti-hero, Vinayak Mahadev.
Mankatha's potential re-release has gained traction following a cryptic social media post by director Venkat Prabhu. Prabhu posted "The Kingmaker" on X, a phrase strongly associated with Ajith's character in the movie, sparking speculation about the film's return to theaters.
Released on August 31, 2011, Mankatha was Ajith Kumar's 50th film. The movie boasts an ensemble cast including Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Lakshmi Rai, Anjali, Andrea Jeremiah, Ashwin Kakumanu, Vaibhav Reddy, Premji Amaren, Mahat Raghavendra, Jayaprakash, and Aravind Akash. The film revolves around a corrupt cop who joins a gang to steal cricket betting money.
Mankatha was a major commercial success. Made with a budget of ₹24 crore, the film grossed between ₹68 crore and ₹100 crore worldwide. During its original run, Mankatha earned ₹25.2 crore in its opening weekend in Tamil Nadu alone. It was the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2011, only behind Enthiran.
The film's music, composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, was also a major hit. Mankatha won several awards at the International Tamil Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Venkat Prabhu, and Best Supporting Actor for Premgi Amaren.
Mankatha's re-release is expected to draw significant crowds. Industry sources suggest the re-release is strategically planned to occur two weeks after the Pongal releases, Jana Nayagan and Parasakthi, to capitalize on the continued festive season foot traffic while avoiding direct competition with new releases. Mankatha had a re-release in 2024, but faced issues and only hit theaters outside of Tamil Nadu and India.
Ajith Kumar is currently focused on his racing career and is scheduled to begin shooting for AK64 in February 2026, his second collaboration with director Adhik Ravichandran. Meanwhile, Venkat Prabhu is working on SK26 with Sivakarthikeyan.
