Mani Ratnam directed two-part magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan is currently being shot at Hyderabad and several updates regarding the movie have been surfacing of late. Latest is that actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who plays one of the leads in the movie will be seen in a double role.

Aishwarya plays Nandini, the main villain of the Ponniyin Selvan story and the love interest turned foe of Aditya Karikalan, the crown prince to the Chola Empire (played by Vikram). Aishwarya will also be portraying Mandakini, Nandini's mother in the story. 

Recently, the makers shot a war sequence involving Aditya Karikalan's victory and a subsequent song that follows as a celebration. The song is said to be titled Kuravi Koothu and Vikram is said to have wrapped it without any retakes.

Ponniyin Selvan is bankrolled by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies and part 1 of the movie is expected to release in 2022. The film has A.R. Rahman for music.