Why Did Anushka Shetty Reject Ponniyin Selvan, And How Does That Relate To The Metoo Movement?
Here are the reasons Anushka Shetty turned down her part in the Ponniyin Selvan films.
Updated: Apr 28, 2023, 17:20 IST
One of the most anticipated films of the year is Ponniyin Selvan 2, and over the past few weeks, the team has been busy promoting the movie all across the nation. Tomorrow marks the international debut of Mani Ratnam's sequel, which stars Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, and Karthi. The release of the advertising materials and new music has the fans all pumped up. It's interesting to reflect back on why a little modification in the casting strategy for the movie during its early stages did not pan out. Anushka Shetty, a Telugu actress, was initially contacted by Mani Ratnam and his team to take on the character that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan performed in the Ponniyin Selvan movies. The "me too movement" allegations against one of the film's important crew members led the actress to reject the part, she said.
What made Anushka Shetty decide not to accept the role in the Ponniyin Selvan films?
With her significant role in the Bahubali series, Anushka Shetty has attained the pinnacle of her fame. The "Nandhini" character, which serves as the main narrative thread of the entire Ponniyin Selvan plot, was thus planned to be cast in her, tempting the filmmakers to do so. The actress reportedly declined the offer, noting the presence of lyricist Vairamuthu, who had originally intended to write the song lyrics for the movie. The veteran lyricist has drawn controversy in recent years due to several claims of sexual harassment made against him by numerous women. Although there are rumours that the actress' decision to leave the movie was prompted by a dispute with the producers over her pay, the actress reportedly did not feel comfortable working with the 'Me-too' accused artist. The team or the actress have not provided any verification regarding either explanation.
Technology Team
The Ponniyin Selvan films are a massive adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthi's epic novel of the same name, which has been hailed as one of the most significant works of Tamil literature, and have been a longtime dream project for filmmaker Mani Ratnam. A R Rahman will once again provide the music and background score for Ponniyin Selvan 2. Cinematographer Ravi Varman, who also shot the first chapter, is shooting the expansive epic. Mani Ratnam and Elango Kumaravel wrote the script, and A Sreekar Prasad is in charge of editing. One of Tamil cinema's biggest releases this year is the movie.