Sequel not cashing in on success of `Saheb Biwi...`: Dhulia

Dhulia has started shooting 'Saheb Biwi aur Gangster Returns'.

New Delhi: Tigmanshu Dhulia`s `Saheb Biwi aur Gangster Returns` has turned out to be the fastest ever Bollywood sequel to go on floors but the director denies that he is trying to cash in on the success of the original movie.

Dhulia has started shooting the film which is expected to release before the end of the year. He has also introduced his favourite Irrfan Khan and Soha Ali Khan in the mix. "We had made our intentions clear while ending `Saheb Biwi aur Gangster` itself. When you see that last shot of the film where Saheb (Jimmy Sheirgill) is on a wheel chair, the Gangster (Randeep Hooda) has been hit by bullets and now Biwi (Mahie Gill) is running the show, the stage was all set for the next episode in their life to be told. "The dialogue through which Biwi introduces her new driver was the decisive point in the film so it is rather surprising if someone felt that we were not sure about the sequel," Dhulia told reporters. Fresh from the box office success of "Pan Singh Tomar", Dhulia believes that a new story will appeal to the audience as sequels are ruling in Bollywood and Hollywood. "It is the time of sequels but you cannot extend the story of every successful film. There are many who are basically cashing on the brand value by means of franchises. However in case of `Saheb Biwi aur Gangster, the very germ of the story has so much to offer that quite a few layers are still waiting to be explored," says Dhulia. Dhulia had originally planned to cast Neil Nitin Mukesh in the sequel but changed his mind after working on the script. "Earlier it was Neil who was supposed to do the film. He wanted to work with me and I told him that I was thinking of `Saheb Biwi...` sequel. I narrated the idea to him. However the film`s script was not in place then. "Eventually when everything came on paper, I realised that I needed an older actor. It was a difficult choice to make but I chose later. Neither Neil nor I hold any grudge though." Dhulia regrets that `Shagird` failed to make money as it was not promoted well. "I do feel that with some promotion at least, it could have done better. There was no promotion at all. The producers didn`t push the film to an optimal level. The success of `Paan Singh Tomar` has shown that even with limited push, one can expect good returns on the basis of word of mouth. `Shagird` didn`t even have this bare minimum push," rues Dhulia. PTI