Director Anees Bazmee's upcoming comic caper rolls from February 17 with a night sequence in a jungle
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 13, 2019)

Almost two years after the release of his 2017 multi-starrer Mubarakan, featuring Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Ileana D’Cruz and Athiya Shetty, Anees Bazmee is back in London for his next, a laugh riot titled Pagalpanti. He will be joined by his cast, including John Abraham, Ileana, Arshad Warsi, Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda and Urvashi Rautela. The film will roll from Sunday, February 17. Anil and Saurabh Shukla will join them three days later.

“It’s cold and fabulous out here,” exults the director from the Queen’s City. He arrived a few days earlier with his art director, cinematographer and assistants for the final prep. The actors arrive on February 15 for readings and rehearsals. “Shooting will start two days later with a night schedule in a jungle close to Carlton Gardens which, in the film, is supposed to be haunted leaving the actors terrified of the ghosts,” Anees informs.

They will also be filming at Allerton Towers, a 35-acre park in South Liverpool. Why did he go back to London after filming his last film in the city? “I had gone on a recce for Mubarakan several times and identified some fabulous locations which I will capture on screen this time. We also have a brief stint in Leeds,” says Anees. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak.

Quiz the filmmaker on the characters and he says John plays a common man and has some great lines. “He’s been wanting to do comedy and is really excited, he has some action scenes as well,” he says.