Director Premkumar rubbishes rumours around ‘96 Part 2’ that Vijay Sethupathi has opted out of the project

Director Premkumar, known for the poignant romantic drama 96, has issued a firm clarification regarding recent rumours circulating about its proposed sequel. Taking to Instagram, Premkumar called out the misinformation, stating that he had not approached Pradeep Ranganathan to act in '96 Part 2'. “This is just another example of fake news,” he wrote. He emphasised that if a sequel to 96 ever gets made, it would only feature the original cast, Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha, who brought magic to the 2018 film."Rumours claimed Vijay Sethupathi opted outPrem Kumar's clarification comes in the wake of social media chatter suggesting Vijay Sethupathi was not interested in reprising his role in the sequel. The same rumours alleged that Premkumar had approached Pradeep Ranganathan for the lead, but the 'Love Today' director-actor reportedly declined, citing concerns that the emotional tone of the story could impact his on-screen image. These claims created a flurry of speculation online, with fans and film circles debating the fate of '96 Part 2.'New script with Pradeep Ranganathan unrelated to '96' sequelPremkumar clarified that his interaction with Pradeep Ranganathan was for an entirely different script unrelated to 96. “It has nothing to do with the sequel,” he asserted. The director also expressed frustration over the growing trend of baseless speculation in the media and urged journalists to verify facts before spreading potentially damaging stories. “It’s becoming difficult to manage the spread of such misleading news,” he added, calling for more responsibility from digital platforms and media houses.Director urges media to curb baseless speculationFollowing the director’s clarification, fans of '96' were relieved to know that any sequel would remain faithful to the original's tone and cast. The first film, which explored love, nostalgia, and heartbreak with great sensitivity, holds a special place in Tamil cinema, and expectations are high should a second part eventually take shape.