Theatrical rights of Mani Ratnam​'s Karthi-Aditi film sold before shooting even starts

The shooting of director Mani Ratnam's upcoming film is yet to begin, but the project has already started minting money for the veteran director.

According to reports, the Tamil and Telugu rights of the film, which stars Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead, has already been sold.

Sri Thenandal Films has acquired the Tamil distribution rights of the film, while Bandla Ganesh Babu, has acquired the Telugu rights to the film. The Telugu film producer will release the film under his banner, Parameswara Art Productions.

The film will see Karthi playing the role of an NRI pilot who falls in love with a doctor, played by Aditi Rao, who is making her Kollywood debut with this film.

Aditi's lead role was initially offered to Sai Pallavi, who made her acting debut last year with the Nivin Pauly-starrer Premam.

Meanwhile, the Roja director is all set to return to his lucky location, Kashmir, to shoot for the film - after a gap of 24 years.

The shooting for the untitled project, which was initially slated to go on floors in June 2016, will now kickstart in Kashmir in September, after the completion of Karthi's upcoming film Kashmora.

Mani Ratnam last shot in Kashmir for his 1992 blockbuster, Roja. The untitled project will feature music by AR Rahman.