Aari is teaming up with Smruthi, who plays one of the heroines in Arun Vijay-starrer Thadam, for Mounavalai, a suspense action-thriller.

The project went on floors on Friday. Aari tells us, "I play an NRI who returns to India. How I get stuck in an issue, and who are helping me to solve it forms the crux of the story."

The team will start shooting in Chennai from November end.

Speaking about his co-star, Smruthi, he says, she had actually interviewed him once during her college days. "This came as a pleasant surprise when she told me," he smiles.

Directed by Robert, Mounavalai also has Harish Peradi, Madhusudhan and Aroul D Shankar in pivotal roles.

While Javed Riaz of Maanagaram fame composes the music, Farook J Basha is cranking the camera.