Having seen Judgementall Hai Kya reach its finish line, leading lady Kangana Ranaut intends to head to Manali next month. However, work will follow the actor to her hometown. mid-day has learnt that the makers and creative team of Thalaivi, the biopic on the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, will join her in Himachal Pradesh in early August to kick off look tests and workshops with the actor. Director AL Vijay hopes to take the trilingual — titled Jaya in Hindi, and Thalaivi in Tamil and Telugu — on floors by September-end.

Producer Shaailesh R Singh, who also backed Judgementall Hai Kya, reveals that the groundwork on the biopic has been underway, with writers Vijayendra Prasad and Rajat Arora working dedicatedly on the cinematic retelling of the inspiring journey of India's Iron Lady. Now, it is Ranaut's turn to begin the process of becoming Jayalalithaa for the big screen. "Kangana has already started her Tamil classes for the biopic. Now, she will head to Manali to kickstart her prep that will include studying Jayalalithaa's body language and doing look tests. My team, including the writers, and I will travel there, too," says Singh.