The country's topmost film director Mani Ratnam has roped in actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu for his forthcoming project "Pookadai".

The shoot of the film which has Karthik’s son Gautham debuting as hero is starting in a fishing village in Kanyakumari district from January end.  There were various rumours doing rounds regarding the lead actress of the film, as Mani Ratnam is extremely tight-lipped about this project.

Sources close to her has confirmed that Samantha would be working non-stop 45 days for the first schedule of the film.

The hunt for the lead actress for "Pookadai" has been going on for months. First it was said that Kamal Haasan’s younger daughter Akshara Haasan and Parthipan’s daughter Keerthana was approached. Then it was said Mani Ratnam met Thulasi, younger daughter of yesteryear heroine Radha and sister of "Ko" fame Karthika.

Even Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor was rumoured to be cast, finally it is now almost certain that Samantha will be the heroine.

Now after her stupendous success in Telugu with "Dookudu", it makes sense for Mani to cast her opposite a rank newcomer.