"Been pretty sick fr a while now can't wait to get better. Unfortunately coz of this I hv had to opt out of mani sirs film.my loss... Bt had to do it..coz my being sick left my dates in a huge mess. Also my other films are 60pc complete while I hv nt yet shot for mani sirs film..so I guess this had to happen..," Samantha posted on Twitter yesterday.

However, the Chennai grapevine has had completely different stories to tell.  A version goes that Mani Ratnam and Rajeev Menon weren't happy with the rushes of the scenes that were shot so far and felt that the actress looks mature for her role and opposite Gautham since she plays a 13 year old in the film! It's said that Samantha who is 27 looked too mature with Gautham who is just 19. However now Radha's younger daughter Thulasi (14) has been roped in for the role by Mani and she'll join the shoot after a workshop.

It cannot be said that Samantha is lying, but it is true that Mani Ratnam doesn't seem to be bothered about her exit.  It is actually difficult to believe the rumour that Mani realized very late in the day that Samantha looked elder opposite the 19-year-old hero.  After all, he had always known the age of his heroine.