A project in the combination of superstar Mahesh Babu and veteran director Mani Ratnam was in the news a year ago, but it was dropped in pre-production stage itself. The film’s writer Jaya Mohan has now revealed that budget was the reason for the scrap.
Said to be a spy thriller, the film was supposed to be extensively shot at a noted temple in Tamil Nadu. With the temple management not allotting permission for the film’s shooting, Mani Ratnam wanted to erect the temple set. However, the idea was soon dropped with the art director cautioning that the temple set itself costs the makers a whopping Rs 50 Cr.
Hence, Mani scrapped the project in pre-production stage itself feeling that the total budget could reach Rs 200 Cr, and it will be impossible to recover such high amount.
Mani is currently directing Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari in a romantic drama.
