Regret fallout with Dhanush: Filmmaker Vignesh Shivan says he's 'ashamed about it'

Filmmaker Vignesh Shivan has opened up about his strained relationship with actor Dhanush, calling the loss of their friendship his ‘biggest regret’. The fallout between the two became public following a controversy involving his actor-wife Nayanthara and a legal dispute over a clip from her Netflix docuseries, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.

Vignesh, who is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Love Insurance Kompany, spoke about Dhanush in an interview with radio personality Gobinath on his YouTube channel. He described Dhanush as an important figure in his life despite the distance that has come between them.

Vignesh expressed his admiration for the Maari actor, recalling that they shared a close bond during the shoot of the film VIP. He said, "I like Dhanush Sir a lot. His birthday is on July 28, which is also the day my father passed away. I feel a fatherly presence in him. I identify him that way. Losing that relationship is my biggest loss, and I feel ashamed about it. There must have been a mistake somewhere. For the life I’m living now, Dhanush Sir is a very important person to me."

He added that during their two years together on the VIP set, he would often wait to eat only after Dhanush had eaten. "I was with him for two years during the VIP shoot. I used to eat only after he ate. Sometimes, we don’t even understand the situation when something happens between people," he added.

All about Dhanush-Nayanthara's fallout

The public dispute originated in 2024 when Nayanthara released an open letter accusing Dhanush of taking legal action against her and Vignesh over the use of a three-second clip from the 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her Netflix documentary trailer.

Nayanthara criticised Dhanush on moral grounds, despite acknowledging the legal aspects of copyright issues. The film, directed by Vignesh and produced by Dhanush, was also where Vignesh and Nayanthara’s relationship began.

While Dhanush has not responded publicly to the accusations, he has pursued legal proceedings against the couple and Netflix. The controversy has added strain to the relationships among the three.

Upcoming projects

Vignesh’s new film, Love Insurance Kompany (LIK), starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Krithi Shetty, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 10, 2026. The sci-fi romantic drama features music by Anirudh Ravichander.

Nayanthara’s upcoming projects include Patriot and Toxic: A Fairytale for GrownUps, while Dhanush will next appear in the action thriller Kara.