Arulnithi was offered the lead role in Pandiraj's Vamsam after his cousin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, had opted out. The film featured him as a young man shying away from the politics of his village, despite claims for him to avenge his father's death. The film, which featured him alongside Sunaina, was heavily promoted in Tamil Nadu as a result of the influence of his family, and became a profitable venture at the box-office, garnering positive reviews.