Shahrukh in Bhansali's South film remake

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has acquired the remake rights of 2002 Tamil hit Ramana; SRK has apparently already said yes to the project

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who at the moment is writing his next directorial venture and will start casting for it in a month's time, has bought the remake rights of the 2002 Tamil blockbuster Ramana, with a strong anti-corruption message.

And apparently, SRK has already given a nod to play lead in the project.

Interestingly, word is that several prominent producers were vying for the Bollywood rights of the film, especially now when anti- corruption statements have acquired a profound relevance, thanks to Anna Hazare.

Says a close friend of Bhansali, "After acquiring the rights of the Telugu film Vikramarkurdu which he has remade as Rowdy Rathod with its original director Prabhu Deva helming the Hindi remake, Sanjay was not really open to another South remake.

He did Rowdy... for the experience. But then someone recommended Ramana to him.

When Sanjay saw the film, he was blown away. Made nine years ago, it is still as relevant. He had to acquire the remake rights and he had to get the director of the Tamil original to do it."

The film will be directed by A R Murugadoss, who is said to have already approached Shah Rukh Khan to play the lead.

Murugadoss confirmed, "I will be directing the Hindi version of Ramana. Shah Rukh and I have talked about the film."

The original Ramana

Ramana featuring Vijaykanth in the lead and directed by the Ghajini maker Murugadoss was an all-time hit in Tamil.

It was remade into Telugu with Chiranjeevi in the lead, and in Kannada as well.