Aditi Rao Hydari signs Mani Ratnam's next

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who was last seen in a pivotal role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's gobsmackingly epic film Padmaavat, has signed the next directorial venture of acclaimed Indian filmmaker, Mani Ratnam. The film will mark her second association with the legendary director after the runaway success of their last film Kaatru Veliyidai.

The elated actress confirmed the news to a leading Indian daily, saying, “The positive reviews for Padmaavat were totally unexpected since I thought I didn’t have much to do. Now I am again doing a film with Mani Ratnam, just a year after Kaatru Veliyidai.”

Doing two successive films with an ace moviemaker like Ratnam is undoubtedly a great thing for any artist. When the actress was asked if she thinks she has become the new muse of the seasoned director, she beamed, "I would love to be."

Adding further, she said, “Which actress wouldn’t want to work with Mani sir, and that too twice within one year? I learnt so much while doing Kaatru Veliyidai. I'm sure this time again, I will come away with something very valuable.”

According to reports, the untitled film is going to be an ensemble affair as actors like Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, Jyothika, Aishwarya Rajesh, Fahad Faasil, and Prakash Raj have also been cast for important roles.

To be produced by Madras Talkies, the film will mount the shooting floor in the month of March.