by Subhash K Jha

Sequels were considered unlucky and commercially unviable until now. After the disastrous Part II of films like Hathyar, and Nagesh Kukunoor's Hyderabad Blues 2, no one was willing to touch these films. But suddenly, sequels are the order of the day in Bollywood.

Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra are currently shooting Krissh, the hi-tech sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya. Soon after this, Hrithik goes into Dhoom 2. As usual, the producers, Yashraj Films, are keeping the details of the Dhoom sequel under wraps.

What's known is that the follow-up has Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Uday Chopra, with Bipasha Basu thrown in and John Abraham thrown out. Taking over from the antagonist's character that John played is Hrithik Roshan, who plays a hi-tech villain, while Aishwarya Rai plays the mouth-watering moll.

But the one that will probably make it into the theatres first is the Munnabhai MBBS sequel, which is already 50 per cent complete, and will be released early next year. Says director Rajkumar Hirani, "The tone of the second film remains the same. Basically, the two characters, played by Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, remain what they were.

But they go through a different experience — it's like the James Bond films, where the protagonist remains, and the plots vary. I've tried to touch on a social issue, in a comic way... not doctors or lawyers.

The tone remains lighthearted. It's tough to do another Munnabhai. I was narrating the screenplay to Javed Akhtar, and he said, ‘It looks like these two guys, Munnabhai and Circuit, are your neighbours'. Now, after the sequel, I want to change my neighbourhood!"

The sequel features Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, along with Boman Irani, who has been rehearsing hard to play Sardar Lucky Singh. "He has spent so much time with the auto spare part-dealers on Grant Road, they've all become his buddies," jokes Hirani.

Vidya Balan, currently the toast of the town for her self-assured performance in Parineeta, plays a radio jockey in Hirani's film.

"I saw her in bits of Parineeta, and immediately decided to cast her in my Munnabhai sequel. She's a fine actor, with a great voice — that's why I cast her as a radio jockey." Sighs Hirani.

"Audiences' expectations are scaring the shit out of me. Last time I worked like a newcomer. Now I've the resources and the time to do it properly. So this Munnabhai will look better. Hopefully it'll seem better. Sanju is doing a brilliant job in the sequel."

"We still have to decide on what to call it. Munnabhai Versus Mahatma Gandhi is what my producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra wants to call it. I prefer Lage Raho Munnabhai. It's got more zing to it." The sequel releases next year.

"Ab bahut ho gaya. Let someone else direct the next Munnabhai movie, if there's one. I'd be happy to write it. In fact, I was reluctant to do the sequel, until I hit upon an idea that turned me on. Whether it works or not, I wouldn't be ashamed of what I've done."