New Delhi: The early 2000s chaos comedy Malamaal Weekly is getting a sequel after two decades. Original cast members Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav will be returning; however, Riteish Deshmukh is yet to be confirmed. YouTuber Elvish Yadav will also be starring in the film.
According to Bollywood Hungama, the film will be directed by Amit Joshi, who co-directed the 2024 rom-com Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.
Elvish confirmed his casting in an X post on 13 August, adding that he is an outsider, did not know anyone in Bollywood, but it is because of his fans that he making his debut film.
“Whatever I am today is because of your love. And because of this same love, I am ‘MALAMAAL’. Just keep showering your love,” he wrote.
Malamaal Weekly 2 is said to follow the same theme as its 2006 predecessor, with the original trio leading the story. The film will be set in a small town, where, in the face of extreme poverty, the trio’s greed will lead to chaos and comedy.
The cast member teased the film on Wednesday, starting with Rawal’s tweet, where he wrote that being Malamaal is not enough to survive.
“Mother Lakshmi is fickle; she never stays in one place, and her riding on an owl teaches us, being just ‘Malamaal’ isn’t enough. A bit of wisdom and discernment is also essential. Otherwise, the moment money arrives, a person, instead of managing the money, ends up becoming an owl himself,” Rawal posted.
To which Rajpal replied, “That’s a great thing you said, bro. Being ‘Malamaal’ is super important in life.”
Elvish then agreed with Rawal’s tweet, saying that since money can be fleeting, one must learn to hold on to it.
“Oh Mother Lakshmi, did you come or did you just bless me with a glimpse and leave,” he wrote.
The 2006 film directed by Priyadarshan featured an ensemble cast including the late Om Puri. Set in a poverty-stricken village, the story follows the trio of Rawal, Deshmukh and Rajpal, who set out on a journey to encash a Rs 10 crore lottery ticket after its owner dies.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)