Cyclone delays Rajnikanth film

The lavish set of Endhiran, starring the South superstar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, was destroyed by the dreaded Nisha that hit Chennai.

Director S Shankar has been forced to scrap the third schedule of his forthcoming mega budget film Endhiran (formerly titled Robot) after cyclone Nisha destroyed his costly set. Reliable insiders close to the film informed that the crew, including Rajnikanth, was also stuck for around two days in Tondiarpet (near Chennai) where the shooting was taking place due to heavy rains. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, however, was in Kochi shooting for Mani Ratnam.

An insider informs, “Endhiran’s set was conceptualised and built by Sabu Cyril (who is currently working on the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aladin and has earlier made sets for films like Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om, Asoka and Welcome among others). It was a very costly set. Since Ash was busy with Mani’s film, this shooting schedule had Rajnikanth doing the portions of the script that did not need her.

They had constructed Rajnikanth’s on screen house and also other futuristic structures at that place. It was unprotected from storm or rain as the huge construction could not be built inside a studio.”

The source adds,“Though late November and December sees rainfall in South India, there was no warning of a cyclone, so Shankar had taken the gamble of creating such a lavish structure there. But suddenly coastal rains started and cyclone Nisha hit the area. The set was washed away in front of everyone’s eyes as rains just did not seem to stop. It is quite a loss for the film. They will most probably travel to Kulu Manali now as soon as Aishwarya gets free from Mani’s schedule.”

Directed by Shankar, Endhiran is based on the work of the late writer Sujatha’s novels En Iniya Iyanthira and Jeeno Shankar. Shankar has previously directed Rajnikanth in the super-hit Sivaji: The Boss. The film has a mammoth budget of rupees 140 crore, perhaps making it the most expensive film to be made in India to date. Endhiran is expected to release on April 14, 2010.