No Mani for Mahesh

Mahesh Babu has been off the radar for a while. And looks like
things are not going to change anytime soon.
After the Telugu star announced that he is being signed up for
Mani Ratnam’s epic bilingual film, latest buzz is that the movie is
shelved indefinitely. The ambitious period project, “Ponniyin
Selvan,” an adaptation of Kalki’s epic novel was to star Mahesh as
a Pallava king and Tamil actor Vikram as a Chola King. Anushka
Shetty was to be the leading lady in the movie, which was
supposed to go on the floors in October.
The movie has allegedly been scrapped because Mani Ratnam
feels the Rs 150 crore budget for this film may not be“viable.” The
director apparently called all the actors and informed them that the
project is not happening. Since Mani Ratnam never formally
announced this movie, he is unlikely to make an official statement
on this new development.
The news has come as a dampener for Mahesh Babu, who
eagerly spoke about the film on a micro-blogging site on February
27— “Met Mani Sir this morning, yes the legendary Mani Ratnam.
My dream is coming true finally. I will be working in Mani Ratnam
film. One of the happiest days of my life” Reports also claimed that
the star was working hard on a six pack for his role as a ‘Pallava
King.’
Fans may be upset, but one Tollywood insider feels otherwise.
Allu Arjun’s brother, Allu Sirish posted on his micro-blogging
profile,“I am relieved in a way. South India at this point can’t take a
Rs 100 crore film unless it is a Shankar-Rajni Robot.”