Priyadarshan returns to Bollywood with Hungama 2

Well-known filmmaker Priyadarshan, who has to his credit such blockbuster comic-capers as Hera Pheri (2000), Hungama (2003) and Hulchul (2004), is set to stage a comeback in Hindi cinema. The filmmaker is returning to Bollywood after a gap of six years with a sequel to his 2003 film Hungama. His last Hindi directorial was the Jackky Bhagnani and Priya Anand starrer Rangrezz (2013).

“It has been six years since I directed a Hindi film. Now I am back with a full-on comedy. But no vulgarity, no double meanings. Hungama 2 will be as clean and family-oriented as all my comedies,” says the filmmaker whose oeuvre includes several successful films in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi.

When asked what led him to choose Hungama 2 for a comeback to Bollywood, the prolific filmmaker explains, “I know Hungama came 16 years ago. But people have still not forgotten it. Besides, I share a wonderful rapport with the producers Venus Records & Tapes. I have made many wonderful films with them including Garam Masala (2005) and Hulchul. I like all of my films with Venus except Tezz (2012) which I personally think was a misfire.”

Will Hungama 2 be a continuation of Hungama? “No. It will be a fresh story. We decided to title the new comedy Hungama 2 because the mood of masti, mischief and hungama remain unchanged.”

Spilling beans on the cast of the film, the filmmaker says, “Paresh Rawal will be back in the film, so will Shakti Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav. Only the lead pair Akshaye Khanna and Rimi Sen will change. We will announce the new romantic lead of Hungama 2 very shortly. It will be young, vibrant, warm, funny and family-oriented. In brief, a typical Priyadarshan comedy.”