Director Mani Ratnam doesn’t seem to be losing any time in planning his next project. Industry sources indicate that the director is set to make a comeback to his favorite genre — an emotional romance drama. With Thug Life nearing release, Mani Ratnam has already started pre-production on the new film, and the script is also said to be locked and ready.
Interestingly, Kollywood sources report that Mani Ratnam wants to cast new faces in central roles for this new film. At the same time, he’s interested in balancing the cast with known names to make a solid ensemble. Among those who are generating buzz is Telugu actor Naveen Polishetty, who is said to be in talks for one of the central roles.
If the rumors are true, this may be a golden chance for Naveen. Having won hearts with his flawless comic timing in Jathi Ratnalu and having impressed fans in Miss Shetty Mr. Polishetty against Anushka Shetty, Naveen’s popularity has increased manyfold. But even with growing popularity, he has been having sparse releases these days. His only announced upcoming film, Anaganaga Oka Roju, is likely to release sometime next year.
Meanwhile, Mani Ratnam’s romantic drama is set to be rushed and may come out by the end of this year or early next year. If the project does take Naveen on board, and if the film offers as much emotional depth for which Mani Ratnam is known, it can catapult the actor’s career to an entirely new level—perhaps elevating him to a pan-India romantic hero.
This partnership, if true, will not only be Naveen Polishetty’s debut in Tamil cinema under one of India’s most revered helmers but also bring a new pairing and narrative to the audience to look out for.
