Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 13, 2015)

The sequel to 2002 crime thriller Aankhen will have a very different cast and crew in place. Akshay Kumar, who has enough on his plate right now, could not acomodate this sequel and John Abraham has stepped in. While director Vipul A Shah gives way to director Anees Bazmee as well. Anil Kapoor will play a character specially written for him.

The three protagonists in the original 2002 film were blind, but Anil won’t be. “Anil’s character is a new one. John and the two other heroes are playing blind characters.” Anil and Anees built a rapport during the shooting of Welcome and Welcome Back. “He has the energy level of a 24-year old. I had to have him in Aankhen 2,” says Anees.

The film’s producer Gaurang Doshi is also trying to rope in two new heroines for Aankhen 2 as Sushmita Sen and Bipasha Basu, who featured in the original, won’t reprise their roles.

Akshay’s sequel history
After Singh Is Kinng, AK will be part of Singh Is Bling.

He was part of Housefull, Housefull 2 and will be seen in Housefull 3 with Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh

He wasn’t part of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, but featured as the lead star of the sequel.

Over the years, AK has featured in several Khiladi films, but none a sequel of the last.