Sajid Nadiadwala is taking three of his upcoming films to Australia. The filmmaker announced the three-film slate during NSW Premier Chris Minns’ visit to Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment’s Mumbai office on Thursday, September 3.
Among the films announced as part of the Australia slate is Heyy Babyy 2, the sequel to the 2007 comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan. The original film was shot in Australia, making the sequel a return to a location that was closely associated with the first instalment.
While details about the other two films are yet to be revealed, the three-film deal marks a renewed collaboration between Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Australia. The productions will be filmed in the country in partnership with Sydney-based TEMPLE.
The announcement comes nearly two decades after Heyy Babyy was filmed in Australia. The film, directed by Sajid Khan, followed three bachelors, whose lives are turned upside down when an abandoned baby enters their world. The comedy went on to become one of the popular films of its time, and a sequel has been in development for some time. The film also starred Vidya Balan and Boman Irani, and featured cameos by Shah Rukh Khan and Anupam Kher.
Speaking about the decision to return to Australia, Sajid Nadiadwala said that the experience of shooting there had encouraged the production house to consider the country for its upcoming films. “Australia is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also an incredibly film-friendly country with a highly professional, efficient and welcoming environment for filmmakers,” he said.
