Happy Bhag Jayegi director Mudassar Aziz on keeping the original lead out of the sequel
Diana Penty and Abhay Deol in Happy Bhag Jayegi
Sufficient discussion followed news of Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016) leading lady Diana Penty settling for a supporting act in the sequel, only to make way for Sonakshi Sinha. So much so, that few, in turn, discussed the absence of Abhay Deol, who breathed life into the character of Bilal in the original. As former cast members Jimmy Sheirgill, Ali Fazal, Piyush Mishra and Penty mark their return in the second edition - Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, director Mudassar Aziz says Deol's character was best represented in conversations only.
"Is Bilal missing from the sequel? No," says Aziz, referring to the role played by Deol. "Geographically, my characters are in such a place where Bilal cannot be. However, he is spoken about throughout the film. He is one of the root causes of conflict in this offering," promises the director.
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Mudassar Aziz
Asserting that the team did debate upon including Deol in this instalment too, Aziz says they realised it would be better to leave his character out, this time. "Rai sahab [Aanand L Rai, producer] and I concluded that it would be better if Bilal was represented only in conversations between the rest of the characters. He is omnipresent, yet physically absent." Their decision, however, will not lead to bad blood between him and the actor. "Abhay is a darling. I don't need to 'work it out' with him. Also, who says he isn't there in part three?"
Also Read: Sonakshi Sinha sings Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu's reprised version for Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi
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