Anil Kapoor’s 2001 political drama, Nayak, achieved cult classic status many years after its release. According to a report from Bollywood Hungama, approximately 25 years after the film’s release, Anil has acquired its rights and is reportedly considering producing a sequel. The original production was handled by AS Rathnam, and the rights to Nayak were eventually held by producer Deepak Mukut.
According to a report from Bollywood Hungama, “Producer Deepak Mukut of Sanam Teri Kasam fame held the rights to Nayak. It is said that Anil Kapoor has bought the rights from him. He plans to hold the rights as it’s a film close to his heart. Also, he aspires to make a sequel to it.”
He added, “He is fully aware of the love he has garnered for the film over the years and believes that the subject of Nayak has tremendous potential for a second part.” However, there has been no official confirmation regarding Nayak 2.
Nayak was based on the story of a common man assuming the role of Chief Minister for a single day. Over time, its connection with audiences has led to its recognition as a cult classic. The cast included Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Johny Lever, Shivaji Satam, and Neena Kulkarni. Pooja Batra made a cameo appearance, and Sushmita Sen also featured in a special song. This film, directed by Shankar, is a remake of his 1999 Tamil-language film, Mudhalvan.
A few years ago, in 2021, when the film completed 20 years of its release, Anil had shared that he was not the first choice for the role. He had said, “I pursued Shankar (director) after Nayak was passed up by both Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh. To this date, I’m glad I did.”
He added, “Honestly, all we knew while making the film was that it would be something special. Something for the ages. We had no clue it would gain the kind of traction that it did. I think it’s the subject matter that is just so relevant and relatable. The people, the government and the tensions therein will always remain a topic of great interest and personal relevance.”
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