By Subhash K Jha 

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS): Actor Nagarjuna has confirmed that he has signed a Telugu film to be directed by Mani Ratnam. He says he is getting ready for one of the biggest challenges in his career.

"Yes, I am doing a film with Mani Ratnam with Mahesh Babu and I in the lead. And it's in Telugu. Mani gave me a 40-minute narration, and I was clean-bowled by what I heard," said Nagarjuna.

How was Ratnam persuaded to do a film away from native tongue Tamil?

"Actually, Mani has done another Telugu film 'Geetanjali' with me. I guess I bring out the Andhra side of Mani," he said.

The details of the film are still being worked out. But Nagarjuna says it would be a very ambitious film.

"Mahesh and I are coming together for the first time. Audiences would expect something special. At the moment, I'm focusing on the release of my family film 'Manam', which stars my father, my son and me. It is a legacy left behind by my father for my fans. And I am the custodian of that legacy," said the actor.

Nagarjuna is the son of late legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and father of young actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya.