(This article is authored by Alar) 

Big names in the South Indian cinema industry came together for the audio launch of Ponniyin Selvan on Tuesday and the grand event was held at Nehru Stadium. The top casts of Kollywood's upcoming big-budget ventures, including Shankar and Kamal Haasan's Indian 2, Superstar's Jailer, and Manirathnam's Ponniyin Selvan, shared the space at the same event. 

This greatly heightened the anticipation among moviegoers, especially on Shankar who is helming Indian 2. As anticipated, ace director Shankar revealed a big exclusive update of Indian 2, which will be starred by Kamal Haasan. While addressing the event, Shankar divulged, "Yesterday one schedule of Indian 2 got over. We are starting the next schedule in the third week of this month with Kamal Haasan." 

Both Kajal Aggarwal and Kamal Haasan will join the film's upcoming shoot, which will be released by next year and it's hotly anticipated by the fans. Shankar referred to Mani Ratnam and said, " "The phrase "pan-India" is now widely used. The first pan-Indian director, in my opinion, is Mani Ratnam. His Roja formed an easy path across all of India for us to follow."

It was known that Shankar is pulling two films simultaneously, Indian 2 with Kamal Hassan and RC 15 in Telugu with Ram Charan and  shooting of Indian 2 began with a pooja ceremony on August 24. Earlier, Shankar took to Twitter and wrote, "Hi Everyone, Indian 2 and #RC15 will be shot simultaneously. Ready to shoot the next schedule of #RC15 from first week of September in Hyderabad and Vizag." 

Since the announcement of the film in 2017, fans have been eagerly anticipating the sequel. With Indian 2, Shankar and Kamal Haasan will collaborate for the first time in 24 years. The movie was delayed for a number of reasons, and now, after several hold ups, Indian 2 is being resurrected and anticipated by the cinephiles. 

Subaskaran is bankrolling Indian 2 under his banner Lyca Productions, and an ensemble cast has been assembled for the film. Besides Kamal Haasan, who plays the lead role,  Kajal Aggarwal, Siddarth, Bobby Simha, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Rakul Preet Singh, Guru Somasundaram, and Samuthirakani play important roles. The film's cinematography is being handled by Ravi Varman, and for first time Aniruth is composing music for Shankar's movie.