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Mani Ratnam is being extra careful in making his adaptation of the Ramayana starring Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.


The film, which revolves around the kidnapping of Sita, has been adapted to suit modern times.

Aishwarya plays the role of a married woman, who is kidnapped by Abhishek.

Soon they get attracted to each other and the story progresses. Mani's Raavan is played by AB Jr.

Mani is being extra cautious about not incurring the wrath of religious groups and has done away with an intimate scene between Aishwarya and her kidnapper.

Abhishek's sister commits suicide after being humiliated by Vikram (who plays Ash's husband), so Abhi kidnaps Ash and takes her into the jungle.

Over time, they develop feelings for each other and there's a subtle love track between them.

There was also a love-making scene between Ash and Abhishek in the script but Mani decided to do away with it after realising the sensitivity of the subject.

An insider adds, "Mani has tried to keep away any parallels between Ramayana and his film.

Even though he may deny it, the fact remains that the film is a modern day adaptation of the epic, with the focus being on the Ravana-Sita chapter."

The film has Govinda in the role of Hanuman while Nikhil Dwivedi plays Laxman.

STATIONed in Kolkata

AbhiAsh were shooting for Mani Ratnam's Raavan in Kolkatta. Although Abhishek wrapped up his shoot on March 5, he stayed back for three days to spend time with his wife.

A source from the unit reveals, "The last three-day schedule was a night shoot at Chitpore railway station in Kolkata.
The shoots used to start at late night-early morning, as they only had permission to shoot after 9.40 pm after the last train left.

Abhishek was present on the sets all the three days." The crowd at the station was very difficult to handle. Extra security was called at the station as people had gathered to see the couple.