Happy Bhag Jayegi Returns to Race 3: Star quotient gets bigger in the sequels

Sonakshi Sinha is part of Happy Bhag Jayegi Returns, Salman Khan is in Race 3, and Sanjay Dutt in the sequel to Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster.

When filmmakers decide to make a sequel to their hit films, they want it to reach new heights of success. And, an almost fool-proof formula is to rope in bigger stars, for there’s anyway interest in the script and A-listers in the cast will ensure a wider reach, thanks to their massive fan following.

Happy Bhag Jayegi sequel has actor Sonakshi Sinha in one of the lead roles.

Sonakshi Sinha joining the cast of Happy Bhag Jayegi Returns is the most recent example. Before that, it was announced that Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt are now a part of the successful franchises of Race, and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, respectively.

“With Sanju (how Sanjay is fondly called) coming on board, the franchise has become bigger, but the film was written keeping him in mind. Hence, he organically slips into the character of gangster. Being one of the finest actors in our industry, he is doing great justice to his character. The audience is going to love it,” says producer Rahul Mittra, whose third instalment of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster has stirred the right buzz.

About the Race franchise, actor Jacqueline Fernandez, who was part of Race 2 and also stars in the next film in the series, says, “Now that we have Salman on board and Remo D’Souza is directing, it’s a completely new take on Race as a franchise, so it will be exciting. As far as my role is concerned, I’m finding it quite challenging.”

Director Muddasar Aziz, whose film Happy Bhag Jayegi, starred Diana Penty, Ali Fazal, Abhay Deol and Jimmy Sheirgill in the lead role, however, did not have a star quotient in mind while casting Sonakshi for the sequel. “Sonakshi and Diana are my strength and needed for the story. It’s mad fun,” says Aziz.

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