Vikram has become the latest actor to confirm his presence in Mani Ratnam's next. In a recent interaction with us, ahead of the release of his upcoming film, Kadaram Kondan, the actor said, "I am part of Mani sir's next, and will be shooting for the project from early next year."

Kadaram Kondan, which is scheduled for release later this month, is bankrolled by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International. Vikram also revealed that the next schedule of his big-budget historical, Mahavir Karna, will happen only after Mani Ratnam's film.

The actor, who had earlier worked with Mani Ratnam in Raavan/Raavanan, is speculated to be playing Aditya Karikalan, the eldest son of Sundara Chola, brother of Arulmozhi Varman, and the commander of Northern troops in the adaptation of Kalki Krishnamoorthy's classic Tamil novel, Ponniyin Selvan.

Actors like Jayam Ravi (Arulmozhi Varman), Karthi (Vandiyadevan), Keerthy Suresh (Kunthavai Naachiyaar), Mohan Babu (Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Nandini, wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar), Amitabh Bachchan (Sundara Chozhar), and Amala Paul (Vaanathi) are said to be part of the period film, which has apparently been visualised on a mammoth canvas. A recent report suggests that Anushka Shetty, too, will be a part of the cast. 

However, apart from Vikram, only Aishwarya has confirmed being part of the project. 

Mani Ratnam's follow-up to Chekka Chivantha Vaanam is likely to be produced by Reliance Entertainment. The screenplay is being written by actor-writer Elango Kumaravel, who recently made his mark as an actor in Rajiv Menon's Sarvam Thaala Mayam, has adapted a number of historical novels into stage plays.