Imtiaz Ali planning a sequel to ‘Jab We Met’ with Shahid and Kareena

Mumbai: Imtiaz Ali is finally giving in to the endless pleas of his fans. The talented taskmaster, who wooed us all with his romantic film ‘Jab We Met’, has decided to give its sequel a serious thought. And if all goes well, fans will be watching this much-wanted sequel in the coming year.
Done with Saif Ali Khan’s debut production ‘Love Aaj Kal’, Imtiaz is back to business. And now according to the latest Bollywood news Imtiaz plans to follow his hit ‘Jab We Met’ with a sequel.

Confirming the news the director told a news daily, "It`s an idea, yes. What happens to the two characters Geet and Aditya after they`ve met and gone through all those adventures? What happens to them after the story ends in Jab We Met? I`m asked that question so often that even I`ve started wondering about the future of Geet`s relationship with Aditya after we left them."

So do we see a ‘happily ever after’?

Well not if Imtiaz had his way. “I don`t see a very pleasant togetherness for Geet and Aditya. They`re two such strong-headed individuals, there`s bound to be friction. Maybe Geet will go back to Anshuman (the moronic beefcake who dumps her). There`s certainly an element of curiosity for me about where these characters go", he said.

However a bigger niche here is the lead couple Shahid and Kareena. The real life couple that starred in Ali’s hit parted their ways even before the movie had hit theatres. But Ali does not see shahid and Kareena’s current animosity as a hurdle. In fact the director is positive that he’ll get the duo to act together again.

"I always cast my characters. Saif and Deepika were in the picture long before Saif offered to produce ‘Love Aaj Kal’,” Ali said.

Well, if anyone can, it’s Imtiaz who gave the couple the biggest hit of their lives so far.

Meet the cast of Kaminey

Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey stars an interesting mix of actors -- and we're not talking about the lead actors only.

The supporting cast, as in all Bhardwaj movies, is just as strong. We saw Piyush Mishra and Ajay Gehi play the father-son team fabulously in Maqbool, and of course, Saif Ali Khan's brilliant sidekick Deepak Dobriyal in Omkara.

We look at the eclectic supporting cast of Kaminey.

Shiv Subramnayam as Lobo
Role: I play a cop called Lobo, who works in the Anti-Narcotics Bureau. He has a side business of pilfering drugs and selling it to dealers. But at one time, he lands up in a mess as the drugs he steals gets stolen from him, and he has a powerful gang boss breathing down his neck. He spends the rest of the film trying to get his drug haul back, with his partner Lele.

Preparing for Kaminey: I just roller coasted through the film, following the director's instructions blindly. My character is a cop, so instinctively a certain authority crept into my behaviour.

Favourite scene: I like the scene where Lobo and his partner Lele interrogate Charlie (Shahid Kapur) in the police station. It's funny and menacing at the same time. All three of us just got into the groove and the scene just flowed.

Toughest scene: I found a scene where Lele, Charlie and I sit cramped in the front seat of a car and I had to punch Charlie. It was difficult as we had no place to move.

Background: I am from Mumbai. I'm a scriptwriter and have won two Filmfare awards -- Best Screenplay for Parinda (1989) and Best Story for Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi (2006). I have also collaborated on 1942: A Love Story and Chameli. I have written Leena Yadav's Teen Patti, featuring Amitabh Bachhan and Ben Kingsley, which should be releasing soon.

I have written four plays, all of which had long and satisfying runs. Apart from writing, I've acted in films like Prahaar and Drohkaal.

Hrishikesh Joshi as Lele
Role: I play Lele, a cop in the Anti-Narcotics Bureau. Lobo is my senior. Lobo and Lele are the most corrupt cops of the department, who supply the drugs (raided in different operations) outside. In one of the drug supply dealings, drugs worth Rs 10 crores get stolen. As they retrieve it, they get themselves in a mess.

Lele is aggressive, cunning, greedy and opportunistic.

Preparing for Kaminey: I consider myself a director's actor. I went through the script thoroughly, and as many times as possible, to understand the depth, strength, weaknesses and limitations of my character. The next most important step is to understand director's expectations, his point of view of the character, how he wants the performance to be. Then I design the character to make it interesting.

Favourite scene: My favourite scene is interrogation scene. We interrogate Guddu (Shahid) in custody.

There's an important stunt scene where Charlie gets into our police jeep, freaks out and steps on the gas pedal. I am hanging from the jeep, my feet barely on the footrest, and trying to make him stop. We share a few punches in between. As he drives, he hits me hard, and I fall from the speeding jeep. I've done the scene myself, a duplicate was not used.

Toughest scene: Just before the climax, the situation gets very complex. It's my most challenging scene as an actor.

Background: I am 37, born and brought up in Kolhapur, Maharasthra. I was a school teacher. Theatre was a part of my life since childhood. I joined National School of Drama, in Delhi, in 1994. Later, I shifted to Mumbai, did some commercials and amateur theatre for 10 years.

The play Shobhayatra was my first commercial play and gave me recognition. It got me the state award for best actor as well.

I have performed in more than 1,200 shows. I have acted in television serials and Marathi and Hindi films too. For the last two years, I have writing professionally for films, television shows and corporate events. The dialogues for De Dhakka -- a huge hit film in Marathi -- were written by me.

Rajatava Dutta as Shumon
Role: I play Shumon, who deals in arms. He is also into the horse betting business. My younger brother -- who is the hero's best friend -- goes through a lot in life. My elder brother and I enter the scene in the climax to take revenge.

Preparing for Kaminey: I didn't get much time to prepare because I was given the script after I came to Mumbai. Vishalji briefed me about my character -- he told me that the character is a Bengali goon, who deals in arms and is into the horse betting business. I told him my Hindi was not very good and he said that was fine - and that they were looking for that slight Bengali accent. Vishalji loves improvisation.

Favourite scene: The climax is very good. Only Vishalji could make such a complicated one. It was shot in Film City, Mumbai.

Toughest scene: My character's screen time is not much, so I have not seen all the scenes. But I would still say the climax was the toughest. There were many goons, cops and snipers. I don't know how it has turned out, as I haven't seen the climax yet.

Background: I've been living in Kolkata and doing theatre since 1987. I did my first film in 1995. I have done 62 films but I gave my first screen test for Kaminey.

Deb Mukerji as Mujeeb
Role: I play Mujeeb. I'm the eldest of my three brothers. We deal with the underworld. When our youngest brother is killed, we set out for revenge.

Preparing for Kaminey: Vishalji gave us a bound script. We read the script, understood the characters and discussed it with our director. That's how I prepared for the role. What I liked about Vishalji was that he never gave us a line or dialogue to remember. He would tell us what the scene demanded, and how we should react. He would improvise a lot.

Background: My father Sasadhar Mukerji (Kajol's grandfather) is well known in the film industry. He started his career in Bombay Talkies. He made Filmistan and Filmalaya Studio. He has produced over 100 films like Nagin Anarkali, Jagruti, Leader and Dil Deke Dekho.

My father launched me in Tu Meri Zindagi, directed by my brother Rono Mukerji. Sambandh and Ek Bar Muskurado are some of the films I have acted in. Later I did not get good offers, so I shifted to production and direction. I made the film Karate but I suffered losses, so I went into semi-retirement.

I took up Kaminey not for the money but because I saw a good technician and director in Vishalji. Also, I wanted to see how films were shot today.

Chandan Roy Sanyal as Mikhail
Role: I play Mikhail. He is provocative, mad, wicked, and humorous. He comes from a family of gamblers. He is a Bangladeshi immigrant. My elder brothers take care of me. But one night, he goes on a mad spree.

Preparing for Kaminey: I have been doing theatre for 10 years now. I did a back story for my character -- like how old he is, how he eats, his economic condition. Vishal gave me a lot of references. He asked me to watch Tony Montana's character in Scarface. I saw the film but didn't want to do something based on someone else.

Favourite scene: My favourite scene is the bathroom scene, where I am sniffing cocaine. It's just before the Dhan ta nan song.

Toughest scene: The bathroom scene again. I was a little nervous working with Shahid. My palpitation had increased, as I had not slept the whole night. When I went there, Vishal sir was on the director's chair, Shahid was standing in front and there were a thousand eyes watching me. I was really nervous.

Background: I am 29, born and brought up in Delhi. I am a Bengali. I have done a lot of theatre and worked with the late Habib Tanvir. He's my guru.

Shahid respects elders!

Shahid Kapoor may be on his way to super stardom, but the actor has not forgotten his upbringing and respect for elders.

Recently, at a small impromptu press meet for his upcoming film Kaminey, the number of journalists who came to meet him were more than expected. Since there was no place to accommodate everyone, as the shoot was still on, the meet was being conducted in his van. Some chairs were put inside the van, with one reserved specially for him by his staff.

When the journos walked in, there weren’t enough chairs to accommodate everyone. Shahid, without a moment’s hesitation offered his own chair, to one of the journos and settled down on the floor. He also requested other younger journos to sit on the floor and make sure that the older ones were seated comfortably.

For the next hour he cheerfully answered all questions directed at him, despite the cramped space on the floor that he chose for himself.