Director Maniratnam has started his big budget historical Ponniyin Selvan based on the epic novel by Kalki Krishnamoorthy, and the team is now shooting in locations in Thailand. The movie is produced jointly by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies and will be made in two parts.

Ponniyin Selvan will have Chiyaan Vikram playing the Chozha prince Aditya Karikalan as per reports, and this is the actor's second movie with Maniratnam after Ravanan. Now, an old photo of the actor during his modeling days has turned viral.

Vikram had once been the model for Chola tea, and the advertisement poster of Chola tea with Vikram dressed as a king has turned viral, and netizens are going gaga over the rise of Chiyaan from Chola tea to acting as a Chola prince in Maniratnam's direction.