Nov 03, 2026 10:30am IST
‘Malamaal Weekly 2’: Director Priyadarshan and lead actor Riteish Deshmukh Opt Out (EXCLUSIVE)
While the sequel to "Malamaal Weekly" was announced earlier this year, it is now known that the original film's director, Priyadarshan, and lead actor, Riteish Deshmukh, are no longer part of the proposed sequel to the 2006 comedy. Priyadarshan confirmed to Variety India that he will not be working on the project, ruling out his participation in taking the popular comedy franchise forward, saying, “I am not doing it. I have decided not to do any sequel.”
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The filmmaker reiterated that he was not associated with the project, making it clear he would not return to direct a follow-up to the original film.
Released in 2006, “Malamaal Weekly,” a comedy written and directed by Priyadarshan, featured an ensemble cast including Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Riteish Deshmukh, Arbaaz Khan, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film emerged as a commercial success at the box office.
The film was based on the 1998 comedy “Waking Ned”. It was later remade in Telugu as “Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw” (2006), in Kannada as “Dakota Picture” (2012), and in Malayalam as “Aamayum Muyalum” (2014), which was also directed by Priyadarshan.
The sequel is moving ahead without the original director and now filmmaker Amit Joshi, who co-directed Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon-starrer “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,” has been roped in to direct the comic caper. A source adds, “The casting has been finalized, and the team will announce it shortly.” The sequel is expected to feature a fresh storyline while retaining the small-town setting, financial temptations and comic misunderstandings that were unique to the original.
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