OUATIM 2 Over-budget on paper?

The sequel of ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI continues to make news. The latest rumor doing the rounds of the industry is that the film is already over-budget on paper, even before the makers, producer Ekta Kapoor and director Milan Luthria, have commenced filming. Obviously, a news-report like this would raise eyebrows.

"Our focus has been on projects which benefit everyone. We followed the same pattern in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI and THE DIRTY PICTURE. The budget has to be sensible," Milan Luthria elucidates, "At the same time, we need to justify the humungous expectations. The sequel is amongst the most awaited movies of this year and we have to ensure that the scale is just right. Balancing content and mathematics sensibly is a must."

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI - 2 begins filming in May. "We've yet to lock the star cast. Only Akshay Kumar is finalized right now," Milan says. We're told that the makers have made contact with Abhishek Bachchan and Shahid Kapoor for the second lead. One of them will be chosen for the role in question. "It's a sensitive topic. Ekta and I have not decided on the second lead as well as the leading lady for the project. Hopefully, we will have the final cast in place this week," he adds.

What about Emraan Hashmi? Reportedly, Ekta and Milan feel Emraan is their lucky mascot and the actor has to be included in the sequel. "It's impossible. Akshay is playing the character that Emraan portrayed in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI. So the question of casting Emraan doesn't arise at all," Milan sets the record straight.