Don (upcoming film)

In August 2017, Sivakarthikeyan was reported to collaborate with his friend Vignesh Shivan, post Suriya's Thaanaa Serndha Koottam, with the films producer K. E. Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green also obtained its rights for the forthcoming project.[11] However, the film failed to materialise and in March 2018,[12] Sivakarthikeyan instead agreed to do another film for Raja, which became the M. Rajesh-directorial Mr. Local.[13] In March 2019, Lyca Productions announced another project featuring Sivakarthikeyan and Vignesh Shivan with Anirudh Ravichander set to score music.[14] Vignesh also finalised the script for the film on June 2019, as the project is scheduled to begin production the following month.[15] In a turn of events, Lyca Productions backed out of producing the venture and Vignesh Shivan too prioritised to revive his shelved project Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal which went on floors in late-2020.[16]

In September 2020, Sivakarthikeyan announced another new project for Lyca Productions with a debutant director hired to helm the project.[17] The project was officially announced on 27 January 2021,[18] which was titled as Don and the actor himself co-produced the film under his Sivakarthikeyan Productions banner.[19] It was directed by Cibi Chakaravarthi, an associate director of Atlee, with Anirudh Ravichander being the music composer.[20] Sivakarthikeyan was rumoured to appear as a school student for few portions in the film, and also reduced weight for his role.[21]

On 3 February 2021, the makers announced the principal cast of the film which included Priyanka Arul Mohan, S. J. Suryah, and Samuthirakani.[3] Priyanka reunited with Sivakarthikeyan in the film, which marked their second collaboration after Doctor.[22] Soori who also collaborated with the actor in several films based on rural settings (Varuthapadaatha Vaalibar Sangam, Rajinimurugan, Seemaraja and Namma Veettu Pillai), joined for the first time in an urban-setting film.[4] The next week, Munishkanth, Bala Saravanan, Kaali Venkat, RJ Vijay and Sivaangi Krishnakumar, who was known for her appearance in Star Vijay's reality show Cooku With Comali, were also announced as part of the cast.[5] Sharing about his role in the film, Vijay said that "I used to stare and look at them performing, forgetting that I myself is an actor in that scene. Don is a big learning experience. I am seeing everything in close quarters and it is a lifetime opportunity."[23] More additions to the cast were, Raju Jeyamohan, replacing Shariq Hassan Khan who signed for a pivotal role in the film,[8] Ranjith Ayyasamy and Wilfred Ryan.[9] Gautham Vasudev Menon was also roped in for a cameo in the film.[24][25]

Principal photography began on 11 February 2021 at Coimbatore. A launch event for the film took place in Chennai followed by a traditional pooja ceremony,[26] which saw the presence of the film's cast and crew in entirety.[27] Major portions of the film is scheduled to take place at KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore,[28] with the film is scheduled to be wrapped in a single stretch of 40 days, with more than 20-25 days were alloted for two schedules each.[29] This schedule started on 15 February and ended in 15 March, which was filmed within 28 days.[30] The team then moved to Chennai, to begin the second filming schedule on 22 March which was completed within a span of 25 days.[31] The team intended to start the next schedule of filming, but was halted on late-April 2021 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu.[32]

The second schedule began on 15 July 2021 with scenes were mostly in Chennai and its surrounding areas. With additional campus scenes being filmed in Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai . [33] With the schedule being wrapped in 24 days, the team headed to Pollachi and Udumalaipettai, to progress the shoot further on 10 August.[34] During filming, the first day shoot was halted after large number of locals gathered at the shooting spot, and the crew did not receive permission from the authorities, since the location is close to the forest boundary. The team were fined ₹19,400 for shooting without permission and over-crowding.[35] In September 2021, the team had completed this schedule and headed to Agra for song shoot.[36]

The dubbing for the film eventually began on 23 September 2021,[37] with Sivakarthikeyan and Sivaangi Krishnakumar began dubbing for their portions.[38] In October 2021, S. J. Suryah completed all the portions for the film.[39] It has been reported that Sivakarthikeyan had completed shooting for the film, except for one song.[40] On 9 November 2021, the actor tweeted that he had completed the dubbing works of the film in Chennai, despite the bad weather prevailing.[41]