Producer Dinesh Vijan had last year announced a sequel to the superhit Hindi Medium, to be directed by Homi Adajania.
The project got delayed after Irrfan Khan left for the United Kingdom to undergo treatment for a neuroendocrine tumour.
But the film can finally go on the floors now with Irrfan Khan said to have recovered from his ailment.
Pataakha (2018) actress Radhika Madan is tipped to join the franchise, playing the role of Pia Batra, the daughter of Raj (Khan) and Mita Batra (Saba Qamar) from the first film.
Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was earlier linked with the project, is still being pursued by the producers.
Despite repeated attempts, Radhika Madan, director Homi Adajania and Dinesh Vijan did not respond to calls and text messages.
But a source from the film’s unit told Cinestaan.com, “Radhika Madan has given her nod for the project. She plays Pia, who is now grown up. Irrfan Khan has recovered from his cancer. Kareena Kapoor is still being approached to play Raj’s wife Mita. Deepak Dobriyal, too, will return to play the role of Shyam. The shoot will commence once Irrfan Khan is ready to return.”
Madan had made her Hindi film debut with Vishal Bhardwaj’s critically acclaimed sibling comedy Pataakha (2018). The role of the child Pia was played by Dishita Sehgal in the first film.
Hindi Medium (2017) was directed by Saket Chaudhary, but the director will not be part of the second film. The continued political tension between India and Pakistan has seen Pakistani artistes also being prevented from working in India. So, Saba Qamar will not be returning to the second film.
Kareena Kapoor Khan’s name had cropped up before, but she has not committed to the project. The producer, though, is said to be keen on her and is hopeful of persuading her to take up the role.
Kareena Kapoor Khan is currently filming for Dharma Productions’ Good News, which stars Akshay Kumar. She was earlier seen in Shashanka Ghosh’s feminist drama Veere Di Wedding (2018).
In terms of return on investment, Hindi Medium was the biggest hit of 2017. Made with a modest budget of Rs23 crore, the film went on to make Rs73 crore nett at the domestic box office. The social comedy also grossed over Rs200 crore in China.
Hindi Medium was a satirical take on the corruption in the admission process of schools in India caused by parents’ desire for an English education for their children.