Tamil Kollywood Zone

Directed by	K. S. Ravikumar
Produced by	Sunil Lulla
	Soundarya Rajinikanth
Written by	S. Ramakrishnan
Screenplay by	K. S. Ravikumar
Story by	Rajinikanth
Starring	Rajinikanth
	Deepika Padukone
	Sonu Sood
	Ganja Karuppu
Music by	A. R. Rahman
Cinematography	R. Rathnavelu
Editing by	Anthony
Studio	Eros International
	Ocher Studios
Country	India
Language	Tamil
	Telugu
	Hindi

Development

During late-2010, reports suggested that Rana would be the new title of Soundarya Rajnikanth's self-produced, directed, and designed film Dheera, an animation film that began production in 2007, featuring her father Rajnikanth in the title role. It was also reported that K. S. Ravikumar was signed up as co-director to direct "non-animated" scenes of the film, in which Rajinikanth would pair up with Trisha Krishnan. 

The reports were later falsified as several websites on January 28, 2011 claimed that Rana was a separate project, jointly produced by Eros International and Soundarya's Ocher Picture Productions. Confusions of Rana being the "revival" of Hara were cleared as both Ocher and Eros denied the claims, stating that Rana was "a fresh script" and will be shot as live action while Hara was still under production, likely to be released after the former.

After several dates for principal photography to begin, ranging between March and April 2011, were reported, it finally began on 29 April 2011 at AVM Studios in Chennai. In a turn of events, Rajinikanth fell ill on set and was treated for dehydration and exhaustion at a hospital, after being diagnosed with a mild foodborne illness, resulting in postponment of filming. Nonetheless, Deepika Padukone has already shot for some scenes in the film, including one in muddy water.

The film was dubbed as a "Rajinikanth-starrer" when it was first announced, adding that Rajinikanth would feature in three different roles in the film. Before the film's official announcement, Trisha Krishnan was reported to be signed up for a lead role, but this was eventually learnt to be false. Later reports stated that Anushka Shetty, Deepika Padukone, Asin, and Sneha were approached for lead roles. 

The role eventually went to Padukone who signed up in February 2011. Sonu Sood was signed to play the film's antagonist. Later that month, Madhuri Dixit was linked to the project, whom media reports claimed was offered a supporting role, which she later refused citing personal commitments and differences with the role she was offered. Several media reports subsequently emerged, stating that Bollywood actresses Rekha and Vidya Balan were slated to be part of the leading cast. 

The following month, however, it was reported that Rekha walked out of the project during its pre-production stage after a dispute with the producers about her salary. Balan was also reported to have dropped out of the film after an untimely request to fully view the film's script was turned down. In the meantime, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini were reported to have been signed up for important roles, marking the former's Tamil cinema debut. 

All reports, however, were finally downplayed by K. S. Ravikumar, stating that no other actor had been signed up, other than Rajinikanth and Padukone, as of March 2011. Ganja Karuppu was signed up the following month as the film's comedian, after the possibility of Vadivelu was turned down due to his controversial motifs during the 2011 legislative assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

R. Rathnavelu was specially chosen by Rajinikanth as the film's cinematographer, after the two worked together in their prior successful venture Enthiran (2010). Rajeevan was signed up as art director. Anthony and A. R. Rahman, who were also part of the Enthiran team, were signed up as the film's editor and composer, respectively. S. Ramakrishnan was signed up as the film's dialogue writer.