Twice Upon a Time

“As soon as we released Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster,we announced its sequel. Our characters were defined and we left an open end to part one,” said Mitra. Though as “explosive” as the first one,the sequel,adds Sheirgill,has been toned down in terms of sex and violence but they haven’t completely shied away from it. Joining Gill in the sequel is Soha Ali Khan who fits the “royal element” that Mitra and director Tigmanshu Dhulia were looking for.

Khan plays the repressed wife of Irrfan (Raju Bhaiyya) and Raj Babbar is her father. “Raj Babbar had one question — is it the sequel to the title or the story? It’s always the story,” says Mitra. The sequel will see the Sahib,essayed by Sheirgill,confined to a wheelchair and the Biwi becoming even more powerful. “You don’t really need to see the first part to understand the second. The story treads a new path,and the names mentioned in part one will come alive in this film,” said Sheirgill. Gill said,“The Biwi is terrible in this one and more desperate to grab her husband’s attention and for that,she will go to any lengths.”

Besides,Gill will also be seen as Mona Darling in Zanjeer and in an item number in Mitra and Dhulia’s next venture,Bullet Raja. “I am a boring person who is not flamboyant or aggressive with her marketing,so work is limited,” she admitted.

At the centre of a sequel lies the script. “I have worked very hard to make the films I want to. Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster was made on a shoestring budget. The sequel has been shot on a sizeable budget of Rs 7 crore. With ballroom dances and polo matches,there’s a royal feel to it. Only the Sahib,Biwi and their haveli are the same,” said Mitra. Singer Jazzy B has delivered a rendition of Jugni in the film and the music is by Sandeep Chowta. The film releases on March 8.