A week into its theatrical run, With Love has done exactly what a small-budget Tamil romance rarely manages: it has made money, and people are talking about it. The film, which opened on February 6, has crossed ₹12 crore at the box office on a reported budget of just ₹4 crore, making it the second profitable Tamil release of 2026 so far. But the numbers, impressive as they are for a debut-led film, tell only part of the story. The more interesting part is how a first-time director and a filmmaker-turned-actor ended up here, and what Rajinikanth had to say about it.
Abishan Jeevinth was behind the camera for Tourist Family, the 2025 Sasikumar comedy that became one of Tamil cinema’s most profitable films last year with nearly ₹90 crore worldwide. Stepping in front of the camera for the first time as a leading man was a different kind of risk. The film that drew him was With Love, a romantic comedy directed by debutant Madhan, produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Zion Films alongside Mahesh Raj Pasilian’s MRP Entertainment, and co-starring Anaswara Rajan. The story follows Sathya, a designer who keeps dodging marriage proposals until his sister sets him up on a blind meeting with Monisha, a social media influencer who turns out to be his former schoolmate. What starts as an awkward arranged setup becomes something warmer and more layered.
Speaking after the film’s strong opening week, Abishan traced his decision to act back to an earlier encounter with Rajinikanth. “Rajini sir’s words were the reason I chose to act, the reason I believed in this decision,” he said. “When we met him recently, he said ‘hero aagita’ (you’ve become a hero). It felt like a circle completing itself.” Rajinikanth had released the film’s title teaser in November 2025, attended the premiere with his family, and later met the entire team to congratulate them personally.
For Soundarya Rajinikanth, the moment was deeply personal. “After the premiere, when I went home, both Appa and Amma hugged me and laughed,” she said. “That’s when I understood what success really means. I’ll never forget that smile for the rest of my life.” She added that despite being in the film industry for 16 to 18 years, With Love was the first time she truly felt the meaning of the word success.
Soundarya had warm words for the cast. She described Abishan as someone whose genuine, heartfelt smile she finds endearing, expressing confidence that he would have a long career in the industry. On Anaswara Rajan, she said she was struck by her performance from the start. “Where have you been all this time? That’s what I wanted to ask her,” Soundarya said, singling out a quiet scene in the rain at the film’s climax as her favourite moment. She also praised director Madhan, noting that the second half of the film, particularly a scene where all four lead characters converge in a single shot, showed a distinctly confident directorial touch.
Anaswara Rajan, who has rapidly become one of South Indian cinema’s most in-demand young actors after Neru, Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, and this year’s blockbuster Rekhachithram, spoke about the experience with visible affection. “This film was made with so much love, and the audience received it with that same love. That’s the biggest joy for us,” she said. She credited director Madhan for the opportunity and spoke warmly about her on-screen chemistry with Abishan. “People are talking about our pairing, and I’m happy they enjoyed it. This partnership will continue.” She also recalled meeting Rajinikanth two days earlier. “His response after watching the film meant so much to all of us,” she said.
Composer Sean Roldan, who scored both Tourist Family and With Love, spoke about watching the lead actor’s journey from his earliest struggles in the industry. “I’ve known Abishan since those difficult early days when he was trying to get his first film made,” he said. “His effort was always 200 percent, and you all gave him your full support. He has a beautiful heart, and I trust he won’t change.” Roldan also praised director Madhan, saying he knew the film would be a hit from the moment the story was narrated, and that the finished product more than delivered on that promise. Soundarya shared a detail about Roldan’s process that stood out: the theme music for Anaswara’s character Aneesha was composed in just ten minutes. “That kind of magic is something only he can pull off,” she said.
Lyricist Mohanrajan, who has worked with producer Mahesh across multiple films, reflected on how Soundarya’s involvement had been transformative for the project. “Having Soundarya ma’am on board was a blessing for us,” he said. He shared a personal anecdote about a long-held wish to meet Rajinikanth in person, something he had mentioned repeatedly to Mahesh over the years. “When I finally met him during this film, I recited a poem for him, the way Vairamuthu sir would. He genuinely loved it. A lifelong dream came true.”
Director Madhan, making his feature debut after assistant director stints on Lover and Tourist Family, acknowledged the collective effort behind the film. “Everyone kept telling me this would be a hit. And it actually happened. That feeling is indescribable,” he said. He had particular praise for Anaswara’s work, saying the way she inhabited her character was beautiful enough to make him applaud during the screening itself. On producer Mahesh, he said: “Everything he touches turns to gold. He has the most childlike heart. He will deliver at least three more hits, I’m certain of it.”
Producer Mahesh Raj Pasilian, who also backed Tourist Family, credited the film’s theatrical momentum to early media support and word-of-mouth. “After the press screening, your response is what really launched this film,” he said. He recalled that when Madhan first narrated the story, the conviction was immediate, and that Madhan’s insistence on casting Anaswara proved to be exactly the right call. “Once I saw her performance, I understood what a strength she is.” On Soundarya, he spoke with evident warmth. “Our relationship goes back over ten years. She’s always been like an elder sister. Things we couldn’t manage, she would sort out with a single phone call. She is a pillar of this team.” The three of them, he confirmed, are already working on a bigger film together.
Actress Anandhi, who said she wanted to speak about With Love not as a cast member but as a viewer, shared how the film shifted her thinking. “This film tells you something about human nature in the gentlest way,” she said. “There are no bad people, but we all do bad things sometimes. And there’s always room to grow. That message, wrapped inside a love story, is what makes this special.”
Actor Saravanan noted that even his brief role received generous attention from critics and audiences, and credited that to how carefully Madhan had written it despite its size. Newcomer Kavya thanked audiences for celebrating her character and recognising her by name, something she hadn’t expected as a first-timer. Actor Sachin expressed his gratitude to the team and to the media for carrying the film to a wider audience.
With Love’s streaming rights have been acquired by Netflix, with an OTT release expected by mid-March. For a production that started with a debut director, a first-time leading man, and a ₹4 crore budget, the trajectory has been remarkable. Abishan, Soundarya, and Mahesh have already confirmed they are joining forces for something larger next. The audience, it seems, is ready for it.