Mani Ratnam has roped in Mahesh Babu for his bilingual period drama (titled Ponniyan Selvan in Tamil) but the latest we hear is that the director is facing funds problems for this mammoth movie. The film requires Rs 100 Cr budget.
After a big dud like Villain (Raavan in Hindi and Tamil), which also was shot on a huge budget, big corporate houses are vary of putting money on a risky subject like this. So Manirathnam is putting off this project, sources said.
Mahesh Babu readily catered his dates when Mani offered the film. But sadly, his dream of working this auteur might not be happening.