In 2018, Amit Sharma's Badhaai Ho, starring Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao, Ayushmann Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra, emerged as a sleeper-hit. Backed by Junglee Pictures, the social-comedy was appreciated by the audience and critics alike. The film earned two National Awards as well - Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Supporting Actress (Surekha Sikri). And now adding to the excitement, Badhaai Ho is getting a second instalment titled Badhaai Do.
Bhumi Pednekar and Rajkummar Rao will headline the second part of the franchise. Directed by prolific ad filmmaker and Hunterrr director Harshavardhan Kulkarni, Badhaai Do is a family comedy, which revolves around an unlikely relationship. The earlier film revolved around accidental parental pregnancy, the lady in question being the 40-plus mother of two boys in their 20s and was universally liked and feted. While the story and the characters will be different from that of the first part, the two films are connected by a common theme. While Raj plays a Delhi cop, the only male cop in a mahila thana, Bhumi essays the role of a school PT teacher, much to her family’s stress. Unlike each other, yet made for each other, the film is about the goof-ups that follow when they meet, and their lives intertwine in more ways than one.
Confirming the news, Bhumi said, “Badhaai Ho is one of my most favourite films in recent times and it is really exciting to take this franchise forward. For me, the script is one of the best that I have ever come across and I immediately wanted to do the film. My character again is strong, independent and authorbacked, and it gives me a lot of scope to bring a very different and cool character to life. This time too, the film will say something extremely relevant and relatable but in the most hilarious manner. The film has its heart rooted in family values. With each character I have portrayed I have tried to push the envelope and I look forward to doing that with this role too. I am excited to share screen space with Raj for the first time. He is an artiste I have always wanted to creatively collaborate with.”
Rajkummar said, “I have played a cop before but never with this perspective. I look for layered characters and this one is a perfect match. My character is surrounded by strong women at home and at work and that adds immense depth to his personality. Harshavardhan and Bhumi are both dear friends and extremely talented artistes. Junglee Pictures’ Bareilly Ki Barfi was a fabulous experience for me. So, Badhaai Do is a reunion in many ways,” says Raj.
Harshavardhan informed that he has always admired the kind of films that Junglee Pictures have made. “So, when they came to me with this social comedy written by Akshat (Ghildial) and Suman (Adhikary), I just flipped and was instantly on board. Just like the delightful Badhaai Ho, the milieu of this film remains the same but with a fresh set of characters and a completely new zanier situation. I am so looking forward to this edition being brought to life by Rajkummar and Bhumi, two of the most talented actors,” said the director.
Akshat, who wrote Badhaai Ho and won awards for its crackling dialogues including Filmfare’s Black Lady, is penning this one too, along with Suman, whom the idea originally came from. “Suman came up with this interesting idea and since I have a great relationship with Junglee, I shared it with them. They liked it immediately. And then, Harsh came on board. We had great fun developing it and hope that the audience has an equally good time watching it,” Akshat said.
Badhaai Do is set to go on floors in June and will release by early 2021.
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