Nobody can replace Lakshmi, believes Santhosh

Director Santhosh Sethumadhavan, who is remaking the film Chattakkari (Julie in Bollywood), faced an unexpected problem when he began work on the film. He just couldn���t find the right actress in Malayalam to play Julie, once immortalised by yesteryear actress Lakshmi.
���Lakshmi held the film together. Sadly, there is no actress of her stature now,��� says Santhosh.
Nithya Menen was apparently his first choice, but was not signed up as the team was looking for a taller heroine. The team finally zeroed in on Shamna Kasim. ���Shamna took it up as a challenge, and has done a terrific job. She has gone out of her way to look the part and even lost weight, to look every bit the Anglo-Indian girl she portrays in the film,��� he says.
Santhosh has given equal prominence to all the characters in the film. ���Emotion is the focus in Chattakkari. In fact, what matters more in the film is the play of emotions than the stars in it,��� he explains, adding, ���Unlike in the original, I���ve portrayed Julie as a simple, sweet and sober character. Her mother is her only refuge and the story revolves around the mother-daughter bond.���
Actor Suvarna Varghese plays Julie���s mother in the film. Innocent has been cast as Julie���s father.