Mumbai: Anyone who’s watched Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB would find it difficult to forget Arshad Warsi’s endearingly innocuous lead act. Hence, it was no surprise when patronisers of the film were taken aback upon knowing that the much loved actor has been replaced by Akshay Kumar as the lead, in the film’s upcoming sequel, with Annu Kapoor stepping into Boman Irani's shoes. Saurabh Shukla would also be returning to do a special experience.
“I wish I was doing it but then I have so many other films. I may just do a special appearance…depends on whether I am part of the script. And also I should have time as I would be outside Mumbai for other projects,” Arshad told PTI, adding that not getting to reprise the role isn’t giving him the blues.
“It must be hard for others to believe it that how come it doesn’t bother me? It actually doesn’t bother me. It bothers me more for Subhash Kapoor as he is doing one film at a time. He needs to start the film, he has been waiting for it to start,” the Ishqiya actor said.
“I never created anything. It is my director Subhash Kapoor who created “Jolly LLB”. I just enacted and put life into it,” he added.
Warsi, a critics’ darling, said he was aware that the makers had wanted Akshay. “They (producers) kept debating either it’s Akshay Kumar (or me). I told them to go ahead with him.”
“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,” Arshad remarked.
“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,” he concluded.
