Ekta Kapoor to join hands with Mani Ratnam

Looks like Ekta Kapoor is in the mood to experiment with the kind of cinema she makes. After teaming up with Vishal Bhardwaj for Ek Thi Daayan, she has now signed on south filmmaker Mani Ratnam for a project.

Looks like Ekta Kapoor is in the mood to experiment with the kind of cinema she makes. After teaming up with Vishal Bhardwaj for Ek Thi Daayan, she has now signed on south filmmaker Mani Ratnam for a project. This will be Ratnam’s next Hindi film after his last Bollywood debacle, Raavan (2010).

Conversations-with-Mani-Ratnam

An insider says, “Ekta has been in talks with Ratnam for a film. It’s been her dream for a while to work with him. She will produce the film which he will be directing.” Mani Ratnam is known to produce the films that he also directs. However, this time around he will only be directing the film.

“The project is still in the initial stages, but once the script and cast are locked, Ekta will make an announcement,” adds the insider. On being contacted, Ekta refused to elaborate on this news, only saying, “We are in talks. It’s too premature to talk about it. But Mani sir, Balaji and I are excited at the prospective association.”

Talking about the subject, the insider says, “They have three scripts to choose from. Ratnam is in touch with Ekta about the sort of subject that would work best.” One of the topics that Ratnam and Ekta seem to have liked is a period love story. They haven’t decided the lead actors yet and will be looking at casting together. “Ekta is taking charge of the project herself, instead of appointing a team to look after its development,” adds the source. Ratnam’s regular collaborators, musician AR Rahman and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, are expected to be working on the film.