Warner Bros plan sequel to ‘Chandni Chowk To China’

“We have signed a three film deal with Warner Bros,” Advani told reporters.

The film,produced in about 100 days at an estimated cost of USD 9 million,would be released in 80 theaters globally on January 16.

“According to the bookings,we have got the biggest opening and it will touch the figure reached by Aamir Khan’s ‘Ghajini’,” he said.

The film,also starring Bollywood’s latest heartthrob Deepika Padukone,chronicles the lunatic adventures of a hapless simpleton cook from Delhi who is mistaken for the reincarnation of an ancient Chinese warrior.

As he goes to seek his destiny,he finds himself thrown into a crazy world of megalomaniac villains,femme fatales,crazy inventors,Chinese mysticism and outlandish kung-fu assassins.

Akshay Kumar,who plays the lead role told reporters,”It is an easy going film.”

“In these days of recession and stress,people can enjoy this film. My son told me,Dad you look like a cartoon character in this film and my grandmother told me that I look like Bhorrat,the famous comic character,” Akshay Kumar said.

Kumar,who described the film as an entertainer suggested that the audience should “leave their brain” behind when they venture out to watch the film.

“I am requesting my audience,please leave your brain at home. I will try my level best to entertain you,” the actor said.

Kumar,who did all the fighting sequels including the Chinese Martial Arts and Kung-fu,in the film said before meeting Chinese experts he believed that he knew Karate and martial art.

“But after seeing the maestros in China,I believe have to learn more,” he said.

Pointing out to the rising budgets of films,Kumar said while three years ago one could produce a good film in about USD 3 million,”today,this film has cost USD 9 million”.

“In the next two years,Bollywood would produce good quality films spending upto USD 30 million,” he said,adding,”this film can create history and it will change the budgets of films”.

Asked if he would like to act in a Hollywood film,Kumar said he would opt for it if he was offered a good role.

“Fortunately,Hollywood itself is coming to Bollywood now,” he noted.

The film’s leading lady Deepika Padukone,who has performed several stunts in the movie,admitted that initially it was “quite painful” to perform some of the martial arts.

“But after training daily for six to eight hours for six months,I could do all action sequences,” she said.

Padukone,who made her debut opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Om Shanti Om’,said she thoroughly enjoyed working both with Khan and Akshay Kumar. “Both are extremely talented,” she said.

‘Chandni Chowk to China’ also stars veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty and Chinese stars Gordon Liu of ‘Kill Bill’ fame and Roger Yuan of Batman Begins fame.

The stunts for the film have been directed by Huen Chiu Ku whose credits include the Oscar winner ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’,besides,’The Matrix’ (2 and 3),’The Forbidden Kingdom’ and ‘The Mummy’.

The film premiered in Toronto,Los Angels and New York and according to Advani,”everybody loved the film.”