Fun times carry on

Mona

Six year long wait for this one and going by the look of it, it sure promises double the fun. Carry On Jatta is back with more or less the same storyline, and cast, with minor additions and deletions.

Not minding the fanfare and the huge entourage that follows Pollywood superstar Gippy Grewal, still the very humble and forthcoming actor, director, singer and writer, without an iota of ego, admits that he is yet to meet a person who has seen Carry On Jatta ‘just once’.

Concerted efforts

The massive popularity of the previous one makes the team put in more efforts and everyone is excited about the film. As the motley crowd takes their place on the stage in Chandigarh on Wednesday — Gippy Grewal, Sonam Bajwa, Binnu Dhillon, Gurpreet Ghuggi, BN Sharma, Karamjit Anmol and Upasana Singh — they cannot but share how much fun they had on the sets and hope audience would have double of that!

The only one who seems, and, admits having Friday jitters is the director of this fun ride — Smeep Kang. “I took this on for only one reason — that Gippy really wanted to have a sequel. Once decided, we have given our best and I only hope and pray that this one is as well-received as the first one.”

No experiments

This journey sure wasn’t a smooth ride. “It took long to select the plot,” Gippy spills the beans. Not going experimental, they have tried to make this one too an out-and-out comedy. Characters remain the same, only the story takes a different tangent; still thriving on confusion.

While most of the cast is the same, Sonam Bajwa replaces Mahie Gill; Gippy reasons, “Mahie was busy with Hindi films.” Also that Sonam–Gippy pairing was well-received in Manje Bistre, they thought of repeating the feat while refuting the fact that six years gap and age had anything to do with it!

Different zone

While Gippy enjoyed the camaraderie on the set, he found it tough to move on from Subedar Joginder Singh to this madcap drama. Totally positive of the outcome, he takes pride that the film is getting a huge opening with 800 screens worldwide, as also a big release in neighbouring Pakistan.

In the meanwhile, Punjabi audiences have graduated from comedy to stories of the soil, biopics and more. With a budget of 12 crore, is there still space for comedies and chances of returns? “There is and always will be. I love good cinema, and Ajay Devgn! While I enjoyed Drishyam hugely, it didn’t make it to 100-crore club; Golmaal did,” answers a self-assured Gippy. And, yes, he is totally open to more formats in the times to come! 

As for Carry On Jatta 2, it hits the big screen on June 1.

Triquel on cards

Yes, within two years. Sequel took too long; we intend to have another Carry On Jatta outing within next two years. — Gippy Grewal

Stepping into Mahie’s shoes...

I felt comfortable. Gippy makes for a hugely accommodating co-star and the sequel is full on fun. I feel blessed that audiences have been super-kind to me. Many have talent and put in hard work, but God favours only a few, I am the chosen one. — Sonam Bajwa

More to many

I loved Carry On Jatta and wished to be a part of it. Lucky enough, I am in its second outing. My character would add a bit more fun to this great franchise. — Upasana Singh

Upasana still 22?

For me she is still the little girl who played in her frock in Hoshiarpur; our friendship goes way back in time. — Gurpreet Ghuggi

Work wise

Carry On Jatta gave us work for six years, the sequel will ensure work for the next six too. — BN Sharma

mona@tribunemail.com