Ghajini director Murugadoss and producer Mantena in a tussle over Surya

The leading man of the original Ghajini Surya has become a bone of contention between two filmmakers who have parted ways after a blockbuster.

Ghajini producer Madhu Mantena and director A R Murugadoss, both have signed Surya in the hope of launching him first in Hindi cinema. And now the busy Tamil star is under pressure to complete both his Hindi debut film at the earliest. Both, the producer, as well as the director are making Tamil-Hindi bilinguals.

While Mantena has signed Surya to play a parallel role to Vivek Oberoi in the biopic Rakta Charitra directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Murugadoss has finalised Surya for his next Hindi film after Ghajini. Mantena says, "I'm launching Surya in my film. I've heard Murugadoss is also making a Hindi film with him. I wish him all the best."
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Says Murugadoss, "Surya is a very big name in the South. I'm launching him in style." Murugadoss' film is apparently being produced by Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi's grandson and MK Stalin's son Udayanidhi Stalin. The action film will roll in February 2010. The film is said to be based on the real life of underworld don Paritala Ravi and his murder.

Both Mantena and Murugadoss are eager to complete their Surya launch films first. In this me-too race to the finish it's the South Indian actor Surya (who's married to Nagma's sister Jyothika) who stands to benefit.

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