A few days ago, Arshad Warsi made a detailed comment about being replaced by Akshay Kumar in "Jolly LLB 2." He said that the news did bother him a little, but at the same time acknowledged that the "Rustom" actor is a bigger star and fits better into the grand scheme of things.
Responding to Arshad's statement, Akshay told Mid-Day that he is not the right person to talk about it adding that the people should be ask the producer such questions.
"I did 'Welcome' and not 'Welcome Back', but I did not feel bad. It was my franchise, so should I feel bad? Even (in) 'Hera Pheri' (third instalment), now somebody else is doing," he further elaborated.
Interestingly, Arshad is not completely out of the second instalment. He may come on board for a special appearance.
What else is happening with the film?
Akshay has kick-started the first leg. The second one is expected to roll on Aug. 15; it is apparently a 25-day schedule in Lucknow. The film will be wrapped up by September end. From what has been reported so far, the court-room drama will be Akshay's first release of 2017. Huma Qureshi may have been pulled on board to play the star's onscreen love interest.
A little about Akshay's current and future projects
In other news, Akshay has a little over two weeks of shooting left for "2.0," in which he plays a mad scientist who turns himself into a crow after a lab experiment goes wrong. Then, he has Vipul Amrutlal Shah's "Namastey England" with Sonakshi Sinha.
For now, the actor is busy promoting "Rustom," which focuses on the story of a naval officer who shoots his wife's lover point blank. The crime-thriller arrives in theatres on Aug.12, same day as Hrithik Roshan's "Mohenjo Daro."
Read what else Arshad said when asked about Akshay being part of the sequel:
"I think Akshay fits the bill. He has the capability of looking like an innocent person and yet be a dude on a bike. He can be a village or city man on screen, he pulls off everything. He was the better choice. It is not the decision of director Subhash Kapoor, it is the marketing team of Fox Star Studios that decided they should take a bigger star as it helps them in selling and marketing the film.... As business people they (producers) have done their job."
