Actress Lakshmi Rai has had a satisfying year in 2011. A few months back, she was part of the highly successful multi-starrer Mankatha which was incidentally actor Ajith's landmark 50th film as well.
Herstylish and sexy look in the film was appreciated by the critics and movie-goers. She followed it up with another mega-hit in Kanchana where she was the sole heroine opposite Raghavendra Lawrence.

The good showing of Kanchana in its Telugu-dubbed version has upped the stakes of Lakshmi Rai both in Tollywood as well as Kollywood. She now gets to pair up opposite Karthi, one of the leading and young heroes, in the latter's upcoming film which has the lanky Anushka in the lead.

Tollywood's Nikita Thukral was the original choice for the second heroine's role in the Karthi-Anushka starrer. Critics say that Anushka, with a string of successes under her belt and Karthi, who has been having a rather successful career, might make up for an 'ideal pair' (on-screen, though!).

The untitled film is directed by Suraaj who made Dhanush-starrers like Padikkadhavan and Maappillai. Though Nikita liked the script, she didn't want to play the second heroine and rejected the offer despite Suraaj insisting that both the heroines would have 'weighty' roles in the script. Rai didn't have any qualms in stepping into Nikita's shoes knowing very well that it's a two-heroine subject.

"I play a village belle's role in the film; my character has good scope for me to exhibit my acting talents. I'm not aware as to whether or not Nikita was the original choice and whether she refused to this role. I don't bother about those things; I liked the script and am doing it. I play Karthi's love interest in the film and has a couple of duets," says Rai.