ASH’S SHOOT IN TROUBLE AGAIN

Trouble and postponement seem to be following the shooting for the actress’

MANI HAD PLANNED THE SHOOT IN JANUARY BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO —BECAUSE HE NEEDS A LOT OF ACTORS AND EXTRAS AND HE HAS TO MATCH THE LOCATIONS FOR THE SHOOT. — SOURCE

Though the ManiRatnam film starring Aishwarya Rai and Vikram was to be shot in March this year, it had to be cancelled because the unit was unable to use more than 200 extras for a scene that needed 800 extras. So, the shoot had to be pushed behind. A trade source tells us that after the lockdown eased in MP in June 2021, the film shoot did resume in July 2021. “The authorities were basically allowing these shoots now after realising that many locals are being employed in the shoot and that it’s not a mere glamour-industry-related activity but one that comes under industrial work,” the source adds.

However, the film, which now was to have a two-week shoot schedule with several actors in the old city of Bhopal apart from Mandawa and Maheshwar, has been pushed behind once again because of the recent COVID scenario.

Our source states, “Mani had planned the shoot in January but will not be able to do so — not only because he needs a lot of actors and extras but also because he has to match the locations for the shoot. He’ll again have to wait till the situation gets better.”

Incidentally, Ponniyin Selvan was also in trouble after the accidental death of a horse during the shoot at the Ramoji Rao Studios on 11 August 2021. According to PETA, the horse was killed in an accident during an action scene shot by Mani Ratnam and his team.