Actress Malavika had earlier openly stated that she would return to films soon after her son Arnav was born. But when approached to play an important role in a forthcoming film 'Manmadha Leelai', the actress reportedly didn’t give it a go ahead, and asked the director if he could wait another three months for her to act.

The director, ‘Mangai’ Hariharajn, however, has decided against waiting for Malavika, and has roped in Tejashri to play the role. The film has five heroes, all new comers, and five heroines, for which Malavika was said to be one.

Malavika had earlier been embroiled in a controversy when she walked out of 'Karthikai', complaining of sexual harassment from the director. Nisha Kothari replaced her in that film then.