CELEBS FACTORY

Mani Ratnam's next film has been entitled Kadal and will feature, Karthik's son Gautham and Radha's younger daughter, Thulasi. It will be remembered by Tamil cinema fans that Karthik and Radha made their debut with Bharathiraja's beloved film, Alaigal Oyvadillai and now their children will be making their entry into films together.

Mani also considered Akshara Haasan and R. Parthiepan's daughter, Keerthana who worked with Mani in Kannathil Muthamital. But finally it has been confirmed that Thulasi will be Mani's heroine. Arjun has also been roped in for this film.

Actor Arjun, Who is often referred to as 'The Action king' ever since he started his film career at the age of 19 is still going strong as a hero. True to his title "The Action King," the actor has taken a daring step and has agreed to play a compelling antagonist in maverick filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s upcoming Tamil venture, Pookadai.

As reported earlier, Veteran actor Karthik's son Gautam would be debuting as the lead actor through Pookadai with Action King Arjun as his Villain.

"Unlike The Action King’s role in the recent Ajith starrer Mankatha, Arjun would be seen in powerful negative role with an all-new, surprising look in Mani Ratnam’s flick," revealed the source and added that there are only five major characters in Pookadai including Arjun, Gowtam and his female lead, who is yet to be finalized."

Pookadai would have ace cinematographer Rajeev Menon will be behind the camera with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman scoring the music. The movie is expected to be a romantic story set against the backdrop of the fishermen in Rameswaram.

The guessing games for the female lead in Mani Ratnam's next seems to have not come to an end, as the filmmaker is yet to find a new face for his forthcoming multilingual movie.

After unsuccessful attempts to introduce Akshara Hassan (Kamal Hassan's daughter) and Tulasi (Radha's daughter), the director is now thinking to rope in Parthiban's daughter P.S Keerthana.

"Mani Ratnam has short-listed a few names and that also has Keethana's, as he believes that she can fit the bill. However Keerthana is yet to approached for this," revealed the sources.

Though the Keerthana is not very popular, she has become a familiar face as she is often spotted at many cinema related functions like audio release, music launch and première shows.

It is to be noted that the actress has worked with Mani Ratnam before for his earlier film Kannathil Muthamittal as a child artist, that bagged her a National Award.

However, on Akshara Hassan and Tulasi's decisions to opt out of the film, sources claim that the former is currently concentrating on her filmmaking career and in the latter's case, her mother Radha is only keen on stabilising her elder daughter Karthika's career for now.

Meanwhile, Karthik’s son Gautham, the upcoming actor is visiting Chennai frequently for screen tests and is preparing for his role with a lot of hopes that launches him as an actor in a Mani Ratnam film.