First, popular south director Selvaraghavan walked out of the project because of creative differences with Kamal. And now, the never-ending search for a leading lady.
Soon after his arrival, all Rajini fans are eager to know when Rana would take off.
Sources close to Rajinikanth say that Rana will commence in October and until then the Superstar will take rest at his Kelambakkam farm house.
Only very close friends and dignitiaries will be allowed to meet Rajini as he needs complete rest for the next couple of months in order to get ready for Rana. It is said that he will hold discussions with director KS Ravi Kumar at this farm house.
Rana is a historic flick and a major portion of it will be shot in foreign countries.
Superstar Rajinikanth is likely to return to the country tonight (July 13) at 10 pm after over six weeks of treatment for kidney-related ailments in Singapore.
Sources close to the actor's family remained tight-lipped about the star's return, while airport sources said flight tickets have been blocked for him and family members
in an international carrier.
Rajinikanth, 62, is going to arrive, amidst expected euphoria among his fans who have been praying for the good health of the actor.
In a recent letter to his fans, Rajini had acknowledged that it was their prayers and love which saved him.
After suffering from exhaustion on April 29, the first day of the shoot of his period flick 'Rana', the actor was hospitalised here twice. He was flown to Singapore in the last week of May for treatment of reported kidney ailment.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi were among those who spoke to the star during his treatment at Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore.
The Indian film industry is abuzz that Superstar has been roped in to play the titular role in Rana with an advance salary of Rs 24 crore! This makes him the highest paid actor in the history of Indian film industry !
Not just that, the actor also gets a share in the profits that "Rana" will make.
As we had told you earlier, the star is seeing a speedy recovery and his medication is on a positive note in Singapore. It is said that he is utilizing all the time as a quality one with his family.
All this has only hyped the project more than ever.
The film "Rana" has been in the news for not exactly the right resaons.
Initially there was speculation about the story, the female leads and finally the launch of the film happened in Chennai.
Just a few hours after the launch, came the big news that the Superstar had been hospitalised. Even as the election results were at their peak, the rumour mills were busy spreading news about the superstar’s health.
Now, amidst all the uncertainty, comes confirmed news that Rana may be dropped. It seems Rajini and his family were not prepared emotionally to go ahead with it and there were lots of obstacles to starting the film.
Reportedly Deepika Padukone has flown back to Mumbai from Rana’s sets.
After all the hype and promotional buzz, will Rana really be dropped? That’s a question that can only be answered within the coming weeks. We hope for Soundarya’s sake and for Rajini’s billions of fans, the film does see the light of day.
Superstar Rajnikanth, who was rushed to the hospital on the day of his upcoming film Rana's muhurat shoot, has been hospitalised again. According to an NDTV report, the actor is suffering from allergic bronchitis and high fever and was brought to Isabela hospital in Chennai on Wednesday night.
According to the hospital officials, the actor's condition is stable but he'll be in the Intensive Care Unit for two days as a precautionary measure.
Rajni's family is present at the hospital and has appealed to fans not to throng the hospital premises as the actor has been advised rest by the doctors.
The actor was admitted to the same hospital last week when he complained of uneasiness on the sets of his upcoming film Rana. It was later diagnosed as a bout of dehydration and exhaustion.
Rajni's playing a triple character in the film that's slated to release in 2012
Looks like Rajini’s fans are not going to take the mockery made by Vadivelu on the film Rana lightly. It may be mentioned here that Vadivelu had replied “Ranavavadhu… Ganavavadhu…” when media persons asked him why he was not in the film.
This has irked Rajinikanth’s fans so much that they are exhibiting their displeasure on Vadivelu in various ways. Rajini’s fans in Sri Rangam have censured Vadivelu by pasting posters all over the town. Several other fans from various districts are also planning to show displeasure in their own way, sources say.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi visited Rajinikanth at the St Isabel’s Hospital in Chennai in which the star was admitted. The Superstar was admitted to the hospital after he complained of queasiness while on the sets of Rana. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctors diagnosed him of being dehydrated and advised him complete rest.
The CM, on hearing Rajini’s health condition, rushed immediately to the hospital to enquire about his health. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi was also present during this visit.
It may be recalled that Rajini suffered a bout of vomiting when he was shooting for Rana at the AVM Studios and the shooting had to be stalled to rush Rajini to the hospital.

Rajinikanth’s next film with KS Ravikumar is ready to rock and roll. A colossal set has reportedly been erected at the AVM Studios and all is in readiness for the shoot. The first schedule will begin on May 1st. Some crucial scenes and a dance sequence with Deepika Padukone will be canned.
The director wants to preserve the surprise elements in the film, so access cards have been issued to crew members so that only select personnel may gain admission to the set. This move is likely to increase an already inflated interest in Rana, a hundred fold.
Deepika will sport a brand new look for this film and will epitomize the Southern beauty. Tabu will be paired up against the patriarch character and Ileana will be the other leading lady. Sonu Sood, who has become famous for his bad guy act in Arundhati and Dabangg, will be the villain in Rana. Interestingly, the actor did a small role and was in a fight sequence with Superstar in Chandramukhi.
While earlier rumor mills were doing the rounds that megastar Rajinikanth’s upcoming flick ‘Rana’ will be having three heroines, now reports are trickling in that the forthcoming Rajini starrer will be having seven leading ladies.
Well, just like inflation, the number of female leads in Rajinikanth’s future film has also increased all of a sudden, and the unanticipated augmentation of female protagonists in the film was reported by the ‘Rana’ director K. S. Ravikumar.
Recently, in an exclusive one to one with the media, filmmaker K.S. Ravikumar uttered that the much talked about upcoming film ‘Rana’ will be having not three, but seven bombshells.
But at the same time, Ravikumar also said that only three out of those seven leading ladies will be playing Rajini’s love interest in the film.
The gripping female casting of ‘Rana’
Initially, it was learnt that Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Rekha will be the three leading actresses in ‘Rana', but then eventually because of some unknown reasons Vidya and Rekha didn’t sign the dotted line.
After this, scuttlebutts had it that that superstar Rajinikanth, who is playing a triple role in 'Rana', will be seen romancing Deepika Padukone, Asin and South hottie Anushka Shetty in the flick.
However, moviemaker Ravikumar denied all gossips and said that only Deepika has been zeroed in for 'Rana' so far, whereas the other six actresses are yet to be finalized.
Deepika turns action heroine in ‘Rana’
After showing her tough side in 'Chandni Chowk to China', Deepika is once again gearing up for some action sequences for the Rajinikanth starrer ‘Rana'.
Apparently, the ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ sizzler is getting herself trained in martial arts for performing the stunts in ‘Rana'.
With Deepika turning an action heroine, and Rajini sharing screen space with 7 hotties, the forthcoming flick ‘Rana’ has become a much awaited one for the moviegoers.
Nobody says no to Rajinikanth. But Madame Rekha has just done it. The actress has walked out of Rajini starrer Rana due to some monetary issues with the film's producers.
The producers of the film are now planning to rope in Hema Malini for the same role.
The film features South Indian superstar Rajinikanth in a triple role and Deepika Padukone in the female lead. The other two women in the film are yet to be finalised, now that Rekha has dropped out.
According to a source, "Rekha was scheduled to be paired opposite the older Rajinikanth, while Deepika was all set to romance the younger one. However, there have been some monetary issues between Rekha and the producers.
She in not keen to work in the film, unless she is paid what she thinks she deserves. The producers of the film, Ocher Studios, have now spoken to Hema Malini for the role and will be meeting her shortly.
Apparently, Rekha asked for around four crores for the film and the producers were not ready for such a huge amount. That's why Rekha chose to walk out of the film."
When contacted, the official spokesperson of Eros refused to comment on the problems, saying, "We will make an announcement once the casting is done."
Rekha remained unavailable for comments.