HYDERABAD: Four crew members of actor Rajinikanth’s new film ‘
Annaatthe’ tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. Shooting of the Tamil film, which has been going on in Hyderabad for the last 10 days, has been suspended.
Announcing this, a representative of Sun Pictures said: “During routine testing at ‘Annaatthe’ shooting, four crew members tested positive for Covid-19. Superstar Rajinikanth and other crew members have tested negative. To ensure utmost safety, the film shooting has been postponed.”
Rajinikanth plans to return to Chennai immediately on account of the shooting being postponed. After Rajinikanth’s birthday on December 12, shooting of the film had resumed. Rajinikanth flew to Hyderabad to join the shooting on Dec 13. Sun Pictures would decided as to when the shooting would resume, sources said.
Actress Nayanthara also stars in the movie. It is not known immediately if she was on the sets in Hyderabad. Rajini’s much-awaited movie was slated for release this year itself but because of the lockdown and pandemic, the shooting got delayed. It is learnt that after the shooting schedule in Hyderabad, the crew members were supposed to travel to Kolkata and another city for the shooting.
The title poster for Rajinikanth’s 168th film was released in February this year, but the shooting took a back seat because of the pandemic. The release of the film was put off to Sankranti. The film is being directed by Siva.
The announcement about the new film starring Rajinikanth was made in 2019 itself.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth’s fans have expressed concern over the ongoing shooting.
“Thalaivaa, please abandon the movie or at least put a temporary stop. Your Health is the most important. Only priority after health is politics and Elections and not film completion (sic),” Rajini’s fan China Naina tweeted.