Keerthy Suresh, who was believed to be a part of Mani Ratnam's big-budget adaptation of Kalki Krishnamoorthy's celebrated novel, Ponniyin Selvan, was notably not mentioned in the movie's cast list that was made public by the makers recently.

We now hear from trustworthy sources that Keerthy, who was supposed to play Kunthavai Naachiyaar in the period film, opted out of the project to be a part of Rajinikanth's next with director Siva, tentatively referred to as Thalaivar 168. 

Keerthy Suresh will be joining hands with Rajini for the first time in Thalaivar 168, which also stars Meena, Khusbu, Prakashraj, and Soori. Incidentally, Keerthy's mother, Menaka, has shared screen space with Rajinikanth in the 1981 classic Netrikann, directed by SP Muthuraman. 

Meanwhile, the Ponniyin Selvan adaptation went on floors on Tuesday in Bangkok, Thailand. The first-schedule is expected to go for a period of one month. The project, produced by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies, boasts of a stellar cast that includes Aishwarya Rai, Chiyaan Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Sarathkumar, Jayaram, Ashwin Kakumanu, and others. The adaptation is jointly scripted by Mani Ratnam and Kaatrin Mozhi-fame Kumaravel.