(This article is authored by Alar) 

The Tamil film industry is buzzing with excitement as the news of Simbu’s next big project, STR 48. The film, which will be directed by Desingh Periyasamy of Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithal fame, will be produced and presented by none other than Kamal Haasan under his banner Raaj Kamal Films International. The film is said to have some historical period portions and will feature Simbu in a never-seen-before avatar.

But the biggest surprise of all is the rumor that Bollywood’s top actress Deepika Padukone is in talks to play the female lead opposite Simbu in this mega-budget venture. Sources say that Deepika, who charges a whopping remuneration more than Silambarasan’s salary, is keen to work with Kamal Haasan and Simbu in this film.

If the deal is finalized, this will mark Deepika’s second Tamil film after Kochadaiiyaan, where she voiced for the animated character of Soundarya Rajinikanth. Deepika Padukone, who is currently busy with her Bollywood projects like Pathan, Fighter and The Intern, has not confirmed or denied the news yet.

However, fans of both Simbu and Deepika are eagerly waiting for an official announcement from the makers of STR 48 soon. The film is also expected to have a cameo appearance by Kamal Haasan himself, which will be a treat for the audience. The music for the film will be composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

What is interesting to note is that Deepika charges a whopping remuneration for her films, which is reportedly higher than Simbu’s salary. As Deepika has always been vocal about equal pay for women in Bollywood and has proved her worth with her box office success and critical acclaim, it will be worth to wait to know about this project taking off with her.