Last seen playing a pivotal role in Mani Ratnam’s Kadal, actor and TV show host Lakshmi Manchu returns to Tamil filmdom with the yet-untitled remake of Vidya Balan’s Tumhari Sulu, which has been announced with Jyothika in the lead. 

Talking to Times of India, Lakshmi said: “I signed the film after meeting the makers on Wednesday. After Mani Ratnam’s Kadal, I didn’t do a Tamil film, so I’m pretty excited about this project.” She added, “I haven’t seen the original yet, but heard a lot of good reviews about it. I’ve got the DVD and shall watch it immediately.”

She will get into the shoes of Neha Dhupia’s character from the original. In the film, Neha plays the head of a radio station. “The characterisation will be the same; you’ll see me play the station head of a radio channel like Neha Dhupia did in the original. Also, in Tumhari Sulu, Neha was seen sporting a very stylish look, so I was very particular that I get to look stylish too in the remake. I’m done with de-glam avatars,” she said, adding that both Suriya and Jyothika were keen on having her on board.

To be helmed by Radha Mohan, who had earlier worked with Jyothika in the award-winning Tamil drama Mozhi, the film is expected to go on the floors from May. Apparently, Mohan and Jyothika have been planning to work together for quite some time and both felt Tumhari Sulu, which struck gold at the box-office, would be the best option. In the film, Vidya plays a hard-working homemaker, who works as an RJ on a late night show. National award-winning editor KL Praveen and cinematographer Mahesh Muthusamy are already on board.