Prithviraj’s Karnan shelved after producer backs out?

Earlier this week, there were rumours that Prithviraj’s much-anticipated movie Karnan was shelved, after its producer moved on to back another epic, period film titled Maamaankam, which has Mammootty in the lead.
On backing out of Karnan, producer Venu had said in an interview, “When Karnan was announced, we planned to make it on a budget of Rs 60 crore. However, when we went forward with the film, I felt it would cost much more and that’s the reason I withdrew.”
The movie’s director RS Vimal though maintains that Karnan is very much on track and the team plans to make an official announcement within a month.“Just because a producer withdrew, it doesn’t mean that the film has been stalled. We have conceived it on a big scale and from last year another production company has taken over with reins. I am currently working on the launch of the project, which is planned soon,” he says.
The director, who made his debut with Prithviraj’s Ennu Ninte Moideen, also says that most of the pre-production is over, and the movie will begin shooting soon.
Incidentally, Mammootty is also in talks to play Karnan in director Madhupal’s film on the Mahabharatha anti-hero.