Akshay Kumar's fans, who enjoyed Namastey London released in 2007, are anxiously awaiting its sequel. Director Vipul Shah is all set to come with a film titled Namastey England which is in continuation to the previous hit starring Akshay with Katrina Kaif and Rishi Kapoor. Vipul Shah however is in no mood to bring back the formidable pair back on screen. Thus, he is looking for an appropriate female lead opposite Akshay for Namastey England, which will soon go on floor.
Although the dedicated fans would want to see Akshay and Katrina back on screen, but, the makers want a new pairing.
Shah reveals that the script of the film is different from the 2007 hit and thus a new female lead would be appropriate. The process of finalising the cast is on and the production house is expected to make an announcement about the main actors soon. According to Shah, Katrina Kaif wasn't approached for his new film.
The news has disappointed Katrina's fan who were hoping to see her back on screen. She was last seen in last year's hit Bang Bang, opposite Hrithik Roshan. This year, Katrina fans are awaiting the release of Jagga Jasoos, opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Katrina will also be seen in Kabir Khan's Phantom and Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor where she plays a Kashmiri girl.
Namastey England was in the pipeline for long, but, Shah was waiting for a perfect script based on lovers from India and UK.
Namastey London was a romantic story of a rustic Punjabi boy and a London bred Indian girl. The story of Indians, settled abroad trying to explore their roots, was partially inspired by Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim. The popularity of Namastey London had inspired Bengali filmmaker to make Paran Jai Jaliya Re, which was a massive hit in West Bengal.
Taking the idea forward, Shah again plans a love story with a twist which will be shot in Punjab and a few prominent cities of UK. Reports suggest that shooting will take place in Birmingham and Manchester. Co-produced by Akshay, the shooting will commence in January 2016 and will be releasing in the second half of the year. Akshay is currently shooting the film Airlift, after which he will start shooting Namastey England.