Alert Lady Whistledown, there’s news from the ton. Netflix and Shondaland officially announced a brand-new Bridgerton spinoff on October 8, and this one’s been a long time coming for fans. The untitled limited series will chronicle the early life of a young Lady Violet and her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton, the parents of the franchise’s eight beloved siblings.

Netflix’s own press release frames the project clearly. “Similar to the massive global hit Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the series will chronicle the early life of a young Lady Violet and tell the story of her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton.”

This isn’t exactly a surprise pick either. Shonda Rhimes, who returns as co-writer and showrunner alongside Nicholas Nardini, had been dropping hints about this very idea for a while. Speaking on Craig Melvin’s podcast Glass Half Full back in March, she said, “I’ve always said that I thought, if we were going to do another spinoff, Violet would be a great person to tell the story about, the Bridgerton mom.” Current Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell echoed the same sentiment in a Radio Times interview that same month, admitting, “I would so love a young Violet spin-off… I would watch the hell out of a young Violet spin-off, for sure.”

Tom Verica, a longtime Rhimes collaborator with credits on Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, will direct and executive produce, with Betsy Beers also on board as EP.

Fans actually got their first glimpse of a young Violet back in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, where Connie Jenkins-Greig played a 12-year-old version of the character, though it’s still unclear whether she’ll return for this new chapter. Ruth Gemmell continues to play the older Violet in the mainline series.

The timing lines up nicely too, with Bridgerton Season 5, centred on Francesca and featuring the franchise’s first same-sex lead couple, currently filming in London.

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Karthik Subbaraj’s Dorothy continues to receive appreciation from across the Indian film industry, with Kannada actor-director Upendra becoming the latest prominent name to express admiration for the film. The filmmaker shared a video of their interaction on social media, in which Upendra is seen congratulating him on the film and commending the conviction with which he has approached its subject.

The appreciation comes after several other notable names, including Suriya, Mari Selvaraj and Mammootty, praised Dorothy. The film has also made its presence felt on the international festival circuit, earning a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival. Despite the encouraging critical response, however, its theatrical performance in India has been more modest.

In the video shared by Karthik on X, Upendra speaks about the film’s balance of artistic ambition, commercial appeal and poetic sensibility. He commended the director for handling a sensitive subject without compromising his vision and expressed admiration for the way the narrative had been brought to the screen.

“You have taken such an interesting film and have done it superbly. Hats off to you, sir,” Upendra told Karthik, offering an endorsement that clearly meant a great deal to the filmmaker.

Upendra applauds Dorothy’s performances and filmmaking

Beyond praising Karthik Subbaraj’s directorial approach, Upendra also had words of appreciation for the film’s lead performers, Rishikanth and Sananth. The actor-director appeared particularly impressed by their screen presence and the performances they had delivered.

Addressing Rishikanth, Upendra remarked, “You are like a commercial mass (hero), and you look very beautiful.” He also praised Sananth for his work in the film, telling the actor, “You have delivered an extraordinary performance.”

The interaction also revealed the admiration Karthik has long held for Upendra and his work. During their conversation, the Kannada star acknowledged that the director was an admirer of his cinema, adding that watching Dorothy had helped him understand the filmmaker’s appreciation for his cult films.

Upendra’s response is particularly noteworthy given his own reputation as an actor and filmmaker who has often experimented with unconventional storytelling. His filmography includes works that have challenged mainstream narrative conventions, making his appreciation of Karthik’s approach an encouraging endorsement for the Tamil filmmaker.

He also expressed confidence that Dorothy would continue to find audiences beyond its theatrical run, suggesting that the film would travel to several more festivals. He conveyed his best wishes to Karthik and the entire team, adding to the growing list of industry voices backing the film.

Karthik, in turn, thanked Upendra for his generous words. Sharing the video on X, he wrote, “Thank you Upendra sir for showering your love on Dorothy. Your appreciation means a lot sir,” underlining the significance of receiving praise from someone whose work he admires.

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A post shared by Karthik Subbaraj (@ksubbaraj)

Dorothy earns critical appreciation amid modest box office returns

The latest endorsement adds to the positive response Dorothy has received since its release. The film’s standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival has further strengthened its presence on the festival circuit, while appreciation from filmmakers and actors across industries has kept it in the conversation.

The response also highlights the difference between critical recognition and commercial performance. While Dorothy has found supporters among prominent members of the film fraternity, the film has yet to translate that goodwill into a comparable box office showing.

According to the latest available figures from box office tracker Sacnilk, Dorothy has collected Rs 13.30 crore from theatres across India. The numbers suggest that the film’s theatrical reach has remained limited despite the attention surrounding its content and the praise it has received from industry figures.

Keerthy Suresh also plays an important role in the film, which has drawn attention for its storytelling and performances. With Upendra now joining the growing list of admirers, Dorothy continues to attract appreciation beyond its immediate audience.

Whether the film’s festival journey will bring it greater visibility remains to be seen. For now, Karthik Subbaraj has another significant endorsement for a project that has earned considerable goodwill among his peers, even as its commercial prospects remain a point of discussion.

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Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Dharman, produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, has found itself at the centre of online speculation after a now-deleted post on X claimed that the superstar and director Ashwath Marimuthu had differences. The rumours have prompted a response from Rajinikanth’s publicist, who has firmly denied any disagreement between the actor and the filmmaker.

Riaz K Ahmed, Rajinikanth’s publicist, addressed the speculation on X, describing the claims as “completely false”. He also shared his observations from the film’s sets, suggesting that the working relationship between the two remains positive.

“This is completely wrong information. I have seen with my own eyes over many days on the shooting location how Director Ashwath Marimuthu works in his energetic style, and how being on the film set brings great courage and joy to the leader. Dharmam is progressing well, quickly, and excellently.”

The clarification comes as the project continues to attract attention, not least because of the several changes it underwent before Ashwath was confirmed as its director. Initially announced as Thalaivar 173, the film represents a significant collaboration between Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who is backing the project under his production banner.

இத� ம�ற�றில�ம� தவறான தகவல� . இயக�க�னர� @Dir_Ashwath அவர�களின� விற�விற�ப�பான ம�றையில� பணியாற�ற�வத� தலைவர�க�க� மிகவ�ம� படபிடிப�ப� தளத�தில� சௌரியமாகவ�ம� சந�தஷ�மாகவ�ம� இர�ப�பத� நான� பல நாட�கள� படப�பிடிப�பில� பார�த�த� இர�க�கிறேன� . தர�மன� படம� நன�றாகவ�ம� வேகமாகவ�ம� சிறப�பாக வளர�ந�த�வர�கிறத� .

— RIAZ K AHMED (@RIAZtheboss) October 7, 2026

Dharman’s journey from Thalaivar 173 to production

The film’s development has been a talking point since its title announcement. At the event in June, Rajinikanth spoke about the different filmmakers who were considered for the project before Ashwath eventually came on board. KS Ravikumar was among the initial choices, followed by Sundar C and Cibi Chakravarthi. However, the versions developed with the earlier directors did not materialise, leading to another change in the film’s creative direction.

Ashwath Marimuthu, known for directing Oh My Kadavule and Dragon, eventually took charge of the project. His association with Rajinikanth marks their first collaboration, bringing together a filmmaker whose work has largely explored contemporary relationships and youthful characters with one of Indian cinema’s most established stars.

The repeated changes in the film’s directorial lineup have naturally fuelled curiosity about its development. However, the latest speculation about an alleged disagreement between Rajinikanth and Ashwath has been dismissed by the actor’s publicist, who has maintained that production is progressing smoothly.

With Kamal Haasan producing a Rajinikanth-starrer, Dharman also brings together two of Tamil cinema’s most influential figures in a collaboration that has generated considerable interest. The project has been closely followed since its announcement, with the combination of Rajinikanth’s star power and Kamal Haasan’s production backing adding to expectations.

Rajinikanth with Ashwath Marimuthu

Rajinikanth’s Dharman gears up for Pongal 2027

Dharman features an ensemble cast that includes Simran, Raashii Khanna, Yogi Babu and Ram Pothineni alongside Rajinikanth. Anirudh Ravichander has been roped in to compose the music, continuing his association with the superstar. Niketh Bommi is handling cinematography, while Pradeep E Ragav serves as the editor. Action choreography is being handled by the stunt duo Anbariv.

The film is expected to arrive in theatres in January 2027, coinciding with the Pongal festival. While the makers have yet to announce further details about the film’s story, its casting and the combination of talent behind the camera have kept it on the radar of Tamil cinema audiences.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth is also preparing for the release of Jailer 2, his next collaboration with director Nelson. The sequel to the 2023 blockbuster is scheduled to hit theatres on October 15. With Dharman in production and Jailer 2 nearing its theatrical release, the superstar has two major projects drawing attention, even as his publicist moves to put the latest rumours surrounding the former to rest.

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