Mani Ratnam on taking 35 years to work with Kamal Haasan in Thug Life: “It is tough when you have an actor of that capability” : Bollywood News

Filmmaker Mani Ratnam was honoured with the Indian of the Year 2023 in the field of entertainment, earlier this week. After giving two blockbusters with Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 & 2, the filmmaker is set to work with Kamal Haasan in Thug Life. However, it’s taken more than 35 years for Ratnam and Haasan to collaborate on a project.

Mani Ratnam on taking 35 years to work with Kamal Haasan in Thug Life: “It is tough when you have an actor of that capability”

Mani Ratnam on working with Kamal Haasan

Speaking to News18, when asked what took so long to work together, Mani Ratnam said, “I can’t say what took me so long. It is tough when you have an actor of that capability, who has done several things. So unless you have some solid things, do not go to him just because you have done it before. Hopefully, we would be able to bring some kind of a character back on screen.”

“I don’t think big stars have real egos when they are on a project. Really, it has never been difficult to work with the stars. If you are clear and know what you want, they are too happy to have somebody make the decisions. They trust you, you trust them. It becomes a mutual thing. You make it together. Sometimes, scripts demand new faces and that’s why you go for new faces. I do it only because it is right for my film not because I want to introduce somebody,” he added.

Music composer AR Rahman is scoring the soundtrack, cinematographer Ravi K Chandran, editor Sreekar Prasad and stunt choreographer duo Anbariv are on the technical crew. The film is jointly produced by Raajkamal Films International, Madras Talkies, Red Giant Movies, R Mahendran and Siva Ananth.