Reliance BIG Pictures co-producing 'Raavan', says CEO

Reliance BIG Pictures had been associated with the Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai starrer 'Raavana' from day one, the company's CEO Sanjeev Lamba said, denying reports that it had backed off from the Mani Ratnam directed project.

'We are co-producing the film with Madras Talkies (Ratnam's production house). We are associated with the film from day one. The reports that we backed off are not true,' Lamba told IANS over the phone from Mumbai.

A media report had said that Reliance BIG Pictures was supposed to produce 'Raavana' but later withdrew for unknown reasons.

'The film is now in the post production stage. We hope to release it globally in March-April. We are proud to be associated with Mani Ratnam, one of the finest directors in the country. Our association with Mani Ratnam goes back to 'Guru',' said Lamba.

Ratnam shot the film in the jungles of Kochi and later in Jhansi. The film, which also stars Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kissan, is said to be a modern interpretation of the Hindu mythological epic 'Ramayana'. It is being made in Hindi, Tamil and will be dubbed in Telugu.

Asked about the budget, Lamba said: 'We dont talk about the budget of the film. I can tell you that it is one of the biggest films being made in the country.'