Has Maddy lost it?

The story so far: After an extended search, Mani Ratnam had homed in on his blue-eyed-boy, Madhavan, to play the second lead, opposite Vidya Balan, in his forthcoming Guru. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are the leading couple. We were also informed that Mani needed a slimmer Madhavan for the role – the character demands such flexibility – and had asked the actor to get into shape, for which Madhavan flew off to London for some quick-fix sessions.

"Mani Sir is very particular about his actors, and even though he is very fond of Madhavan, he insisted that he stick to the rules. Mani Sir categorically told him to lose at least 20 kilos and only then would he be able to play the role. I'm sure that Madhavan won't want to miss out on this opportunity to work with Mani Sir once again. He has left for London and is following a strict diet regime to shed the extra pounds," says our source.

Madhavan has appeared on the heavier side since his Ramji Londonwale. Later on when he made his television appearance on Sony's game show Deal Ya No Deal, his weight-gain was apparent. The show didn't do well and Madhavan was replaced by a much slimmer Mandira Bedi.

So we were surprised to receive a call from Madhavan, in London, saying, "I am clueless about what's being said. Yes, I am in London, but I am not here to lose weight."

Then he dropped the bomb… "And who told you that I am doing Mani Sir's film? I have yet not read the script and I have certainly not been told that I will be acting in the film. I think they have already started shooting in Chennai and I am here in London. I don't see how I could act in Guru."

When we questioned him about being asked to lose weight for professional reasons, Madhavan replied, "I have been asked not to talk about the character in Mani Sir's film…" The telephone line was cut after that statement, and we couldn't get in touch with the actor after that. How could he have been sworn to secrecy if he was not part of Ratnam's film in the first place?

We're confused, and we're not sure if Maddy has it all together. We'll just have to wait for the well-proportioned actor to return and see if he has lost any… weight, that is!

• Yes, I am in London, but I am not here to lose weight... And who told you that I am doing Mani Sir's film? I have yet not read the script and I have certainly not been told that I will be acting in the film – Madhavan