Vishnuvardhan Cancels Billa Date - Times of India

Director Vishnuvardhan and the producers of Billa 2 have agreed to part amicably. Vishnu will no longer be directing Ajith's highly-anticipated Billa 2, a prequel to his Billa (2007).

TOI understands that the producers, Suresh Balaji, George Pious and Sunir Khetrapal, have roped in Chakri Toleti of Unnaipol Oruvan fame as the director.

Vishnuvardhan was forced to opt out of Billa 2 as the shoot was clashing with his Pawan Kalyan Telugu film The Shadow. The director, we learn, had the scripts of both the Telugu and Tamil films ready for the last 18 months, and was waiting for the dates of the stars. But now, it will not be possible for him to direct both the ventures simultaneously as The Shadow is starting in March and Billa 2 in the end of April. The only way forward for Vishnu was to drop one of the projects and he took the hard decision to opt out of Billa 2.

Speaking exclusively to CT, Mumbai-based Sunir Khetrapal, the presenter of the film, said, "After talking with Vishnu, we have decided to amicably sort out the issue. He will now do his Telugu film with Pawan Kalyan. We will definitely do another Tamil film with him at a later date. As of now, Billa 2 will be directed by Chakri Toleti, who was signed some time ago to do a film with us." Touted to be made on a budget of ` 30 crore, it'll perhaps be the most expensive Ajith film made till date.

Khetrapal also made it clear that the Ajith-starrer will start rolling in the end of April as soon as the star completes his Venkat Prabhu-directed Mankatha. Sunir explains, "The story and screenplay of Billa 2 is being developed in-house by our team of writers, along with Chakri. It will be a prequel and will be about how David Billa became a dreaded international don. Yuvan Shankar Raja is scoring the music for the film. The other technical details are being worked out currently. We should have the list of the complete star cast by March 15. We are also on the lookout for a girl to be paired as Billa's first love."

Chakri Toleti started his career as a child artist in south Indian movies before moving to the US where he got a degree in filmmaking and VFX. Recognising his potential, Kamal gave him the big break as director and also the role of a scientist in Dasavatharam.