Not Jo or Manju, now Keerthy’s in the race for Rajini’s next

After completing the shoot of Darbar, Rajinikanth surprised the audience with the announcement that his 168th film will be directed by Siruthai Siva of Viswasam fame. While there were reports that Malayalam actress Manju Warrier and Jyotika were being considered to play Rajinikanth’s pair in the film, reliable sources suggest that Keerthy Suresh has been finalised for the role.

A source close to the team says, “Keerthy Suresh was supposed to play the female lead in Rajinikanth’s Darbar, directed by Murugadoss. However, the actress couln’t be part of it, as she had given her dates for a Hindi film. Now, the actress herself has expressed interest to be part of Rajini-Siva project and the team is in the process of finalising her. An official announcement will be made in the first week o f November.”

We also hear that the actress will have an aged look in the film. “Siva’s project will be an out-and-out commercial entertainer set against a village backdrop. Rajini’s look will be something new for the audience. The pre-production work is currently under way and the film might go on floors early next year.” the source adds. Produced by Sun Pictures, D Imman has been finalised as the composer for the film.