It seems like Asin might be replacing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Mani Ratnam's next big project, according to reports.

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Bachchan, who had been missing from the film scene since she gave birth to her daughter Aaradhya and busied up with mom duties, was rumored to be gearing up to making her comeback in Bollywood with Ratnam's film. She would star with South Indian actors Nagarjuna and Mahesh Babu. The movie would also feature Kamal Hassan's daughter Shruthi Hassan, who recently started out as an actress in the Indian film industry.

The film will be bilingual (Tamil-Telugu) and production is expected to begin later this year. The last film Rai worked with Ratnam on was Raavan (2010). The film also starred her husband Abhishek Bachchan.

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A spokesperson for Aishwarya recently suggested that things were still at a very nascent stage but did confirm that the actress was definitely on board. "She has been in talks with Mani Ratnam but the details of the film are still not known. But she has given her consent. I also know that the makers are planning to start shooting sometime around September-October," the spokesperson said.

But with the new report suggesting that Asin might be signing on for the part Bachchan was meant to play, seems like nothing is set in stone.

This would be Asin's first time working with Ratnam.

It was also recently revealed that start date for production of the film seems to have been pushed back. The movie was apparently supposed to hit the road during the summer but rumors suggest that the filming has been delayed, and will now take-off in June or July. Pre-production is also reportedly moving at a very slow pace. 

Watch a trailer for the Raavan here:

Tags: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Mani Ratnam