Talks about a sequel to director Shekhar Kapur’s Mr India (1987) have been doing the rounds for a while now. One of India’s first sci-fi-superhero films, it stars Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in the lead roles and features Amrish Puri as the arch-enemy Mogambo. The shoot for the sequel, which will be produced by Boney Kapoor, was to commence around March next year. Sridevi was even reported as saying, “Mr India’s sequel will go on the floors after No Entry Mein Entry, probably by next year.” But now, it seems the superhero must wait a while. Kapur’s dream project, Paani, suddenly seems to have taken priority in the director’s calendar, thanks to the busy schedule of the film’s lead actor, Hrithik Roshan.

“It’s an ambitious project that was first announced 12 years ago. Hrithik has agreed to do the film, and it will be produced by Aditya Chopra. But Hrithik
completes Krrish 3 only in February 2013, and he has a packed schedule later in the year (in June, he starts shooting for a Karan Johar film based on author Amish Tripathi’s mythological bestseller, The Immortals Of Meluha). The only time he has free is between February and June, so Paani’s shoot will have to begin then,” says a source close to the film.

Meanwhile, the script for the sequel to Mr India is believed to be in its final stages. The work for the casting has already begun. The source reveals, “Shekhar was in the middle of casting and short-listing the crew for the film. But he has now put everything on hold. Talks were even on with Anil Kapoor, but now, since he has to work on Paani first, everything related to Mr India will be put on hold. It may now take off only later next year.”