Bollywood is celebrating US President Barack Obama’s re-election in its own way. After all the buzz around the campaign, the makers of Phas Gaye Re Obama (2010) are now planning a sequel to the film. It is titled Bach Gaye Re Obama. “We were thinking of our next film, and this was the most appropriate subject, given that there was a very strong feeling that Obama would be re-elected. I think it’s the perfect time for a sequel,” says producer Ashok Pandey. The first film, made with an ensemble cast, was a satire on the drastic effect of the recession that almost paralysed the global economy. Writers Rupesh Thapliyal and Vijay Manral will write the sequel. Anshul Sharma, associate director of the original, will take over from Subhash Kapoor, who directed the first film. About the story, Pandey says, “We’re talking about how to get out of recession. That will be the bottom line.” The makers also plan to up the scale of the project this time and cast some well-known actors like Paresh Rawal and Naseeruddin Shah. “However, we also do have a strong intention of retaining the old cast,” says Pandey, who plans to take the film on the floors by early 2013 and hopes to release it by spring 2014.
