Nivetha Pethuraj on board Karthick Naren - Arun Vijay project?

We had earlier reported that director Karthick Naren, who made a crackling debut with his 2016 crime-thriller, Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru, is currently in talks with Arun Vijay for a project. Now, a source close to the filmmaker says that Nivetha Pethuraj, who was last seen in Thimiru Pudichavan in Tamil, has been signed to play the female lead in the film. 

Karthick is currently awaiting the release of his second film, a drama titled Naragasooran. The film, featuring Arvind Swamy, Shriya Saran, Aathmika, Sundeep Kishan and Indrajith Sukumaran, was scheduled for release last year but has since been indefinitely delayed. The filmmaker had also announced a new project, titled Naadaga Medai, which was meant to be his third film. While its status is still unknown, we hear that the one featuring Arun Vijay will be a fresh script.

Meanwhile, Arun Vijay, fresh from the success of Thadam, directed by Magizh Thirumeni, and featuring the actor in dual roles, has yet another project, titled Boxer, in pre-production. Directed by newcomer Vivek, a former associate of Bala, the sports film also stars Rithika Singh as a sports journalist.

Nivetha Pethuraj, on the other hand, has films like Prabhudheva-starrer Pon Manickavel, Venkat Prabhu's Party, and Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Sanga Tamizhan, in different stages of production.