Four years ago, when Pyaar Ka Punchnama released, writer-director Luv Ranjan didn't expect it to become a hit with the youth. Now that the sequel, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (PKP2) is ready for release, he wants the movie to speak for itself. “PKP2 has the same soul as its prequel and is a fresh take on relationships. I was a bit anxious while writing the script as I had to ensure that the new lines were entertaining and memorable,“ he says.

While actresses Nushrat Bharucha, Sonalli Sehgall and Ishita Sharma have been cast again, the movie will see two new actors - Omkar Kapoor and Sunny Singh - besides Kartik Aaryan, who was the scene-stealer in the prequel. “In PKP2, it made more sense to retain the girls. After all, the face of the devil never changes. The biggest challenge was to make the new characters equally strong while striking a balance between the recall value and novelty ,“ adds Luv.

Producer Abhishek Pathak says, “The budget is higher this time. It was a natural move. In the prequel, the boys were fresh out of college. Now, the story has advanced and they are working professionals who can afford a foreign trip.“

Luv and Abhishek concede that PKP2 is a worthy successor. It's funnier, bolder and more irreverent than its prequel. Sample this, the famous monologue has been revamped. It is now longer and addresses newer issues. Ladies, are you ready for those naughty digs?

Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and produced by Panaroma Studios, releases October 16.