/> Mani Ratnam's film tentatively titled Raavan will finally take off after Diwali on the 29th October.

The first major schedule with Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan was supposed to start on October 12, a day after the Big B's birthday.

But fate had other plans. The Big B fell ill on the fateful morning before the shooting, leaving his son and Bahu with no choice but to cancel the shoot.

Says a source close to the project, "Mani made it very clear that there was no rush for Abhishek and Aishwarya to return. Having gone through a personal beareavment very close to his family last year he now knows family always comes first. There was no pressure on the pair to appear in Kochi for the shooting."

Abhishek was very clear about returning only when his dad's health was completely restored.

And now Abhishek and Aishwarya return to the shooting after Diwali, though there is no Diwali celebrations in the Bachchan household this year because of the Big B's mother's death.

In the meanwhile the unit has packed up in Kochi. Ravi Kissan who plays Abhishek's elder brother says, "We couldn't do any shooting because all my scenes are with Abhishek."

Incidentally the Big B's schedules would need considerable adjustment when gets back to work.

The project most immediately affected is Leena Yadav's Teen Patti. The Big B was shooting for it when he fell ill.

Says the director Leena Yadav, "But Mr Bachchan had taken the day off for his birthday when he fell ill. Very honestly, his health is far more important than any film schedule. We'll resume shooting only when he has recuperated properly."