Back in 1991, Indian audiences were left numb with Sadashiv Amrapurkar’s portrayal of the vicious eunuch, named Maharani, who tormented the protagonists, played by Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt.
Twenty six years later, director Mahesh Bhatt has lined up a sequel, that will see both Pooja and Dutt reprises their roles as Pooja and Ravi, respectively. The tentative release date has been set as 31 August, 2018.
The original film has Ravi (Dutt) rescue a young girl from the clutches of the pimp Maharani. The principal plot was partly inspired by Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Drvier (1976).
While Mahesh Bhatt is said be writing the story, the director has not been announced yet.
“Innumerable discussions over a period of two-three weeks showed me how the once-vulnerable boy from Naam (1986) had matured into a deeper human being. Sanjay who was 32 when we made the original, comes back as a 54-year-old Ravi into the 21st century world that is collapsing in front of his eyes, where the distinction between the house and the ‘sadak’ is fast disappearing. The story has the emotional connect of the films I made back in the '90s which brought a lump to the throats of the viewer. I could see that in the reaction of those present at the narration. They were visibly moved,” Mahesh Bhatt told the daily Mumbai Mirror.
The seasoned filmmaker also ruled out returning to direction saying that chapter of his life is over and collectively, the team will decide on a director soon.
Pooja and Dutt will bring their characters back to life, but it would be difficult to find a new Maharani, especially, since Sadashiv Amrapurkar passed away on 3 November, 2014.
The veteran filmmaker/producer, in a tweet, said that it was only ironic that the announcement was made on Amrapurkar’s 'second' death anniversary, today. However, Mahesh got the anniversary number wrong. Today is Amrapurkar's third death anniversary.
Pooja will return as an actress after sixteen years. She was last seen in Lawrence D'Souza's Sanam Teri Kasam (2009).