Vikram, who has just wrapped up shooting for Kadaram Kondan, is all set to commence work on Mahavir Karna, to be directed by RS Vimal, best known for Ennu Ninte Moideen. The team is currently camped in Ramoji Rao Film City where a bulk of the shoot will be held.
Vikram will be seen as lead character Karna for which he is getting ready with his physical transformation, training in horse riding and other related activities.
Mahavir Karna is a high budget movie that will be made with Rs 300 crores. The project is being bankrolled by a New York-based company called United Film Kingdom which is ready to spend as much as it takes to get the film made.
The director has said that when wanted to cast Vikram to play the role Karna in the movie and approached him, the star was skeptical if he would be able to do it as the role was perfectly etched out by Sivaji Ganesan. However, on hearing out the entire script and how the role was carved, Vikram was so impressed that he agreed to sign on the dotted lines.
Originally planned with Prithviraj, the project was shelved last year after the producer opted due to exorbitant budget. In a Times of India report, producer Venu was quoted saying, “When Karnan was announced, we planned to make it on a budget of Rs 60 crore. However, when we went forward with the film, I felt it would cost much more and that's the reason I withdrew.”
Last seen in Saamy Square, the sequel to his 2002 blockbuster Saamy, he also has Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram up for release. The project will see him play a suave agent who is on the run for revenge. The star recently wrapped up Kadaram Kondan which is bankrolled by Kamal Haasan’s production and directed by Rajesh M Selva.
(Content provided by Digital Native)