New Delhi: Fifteen years after the release of Huppa Huiyya, filmmaker Samit Kakkad has officially announced its sequel.
“The idea was conceived in 2015, the story was written, but factors like budget, VFX, and the grandeur I envisioned for the sequel delayed the project,” Kakkad told The Print.
Though Huppa Huiyya 2, slated for a 2025 release, will be an independent story, it will have one thing in common with the first installment – Lord Hanuman.
“I am looking for either a Diwali or a December release,” he said. A devoted follower of Lord Hanuman, Kakkad revealed that his faith in the god was the driving force behind him bankrolling the first installment, helmed by Anil Surve.
With the sequel, Kakkad is donning multiple hats. He is sitting in the director’s chair; writing the screenplay in collaboration with Hrishikesh Koli; and of course, producing it.
“This project is close to my heart. I want to do justice to it,” Kakkad added.
Success of Huppa Huiyya
Huppa Huiyya, featuring Siddharth Jadhav, was a fantasy-comedy-drama deeply rooted in the cultural significance of Maharashtra’s 11 Maruti temples.
In the film, Hanmaya (played by Jadhav) channels the strength of Lord Hanuman for the greater good of his village.
The film, made on a budget of nearly Rs 2 crore, carved a special place in Marathi cinema history. Not only did it resonate with audiences for its compelling story, but it also became iconic for breaking new ground with visual effects.
It was also the first Marathi film to have an over-eight-minute-long song that captured all 11 Maruti temples.
“Every Saturday, Huppa Huiyya is telecasted on Zee channel, even today. And, on Hanuman Jayanti, it is shown twice a day,” said Kakkad, who is currently riding on the success of his action thriller Raanti (2024).
Kakkad is tight-lipped about the star cast and the storyline for the sequel.
However, he promises that “some of the top performance-oriented Marathi actors” will be part of Huppa Huiyya 2.
The filmmaker revealed that while he will retain the over-eight-minute-long song, the composition will be new. “Will keep some bits from the old part and add new flavour,” he said.
Huppa Huiyya 2 will be shot over nearly four months, with the cameras rolling across different locations in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Nashik.
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The other Hanuman film
While Kakkad is well aware of Mythri Movie Makers’ upcoming project Jai Hanuman, he seems unfazed by the surrounding controversy.
On the casting of Rishab Shetty in Jai Hanuman, Kakkad had no doubts. “Rishab is an extraordinary talent. You have to trust him to bring the character to life with justice and authenticity,” he said.
High court advocate Mamidal Thirumal Rao filed a case at the Nampally Criminal Court, accusing director Prasanth Varma, actor Rishab Shetty, and the producers—Ravi Shankar and Naveen Yerneni—of offensively portraying Lord Hanuman.
According to Kakkad, the legal dispute lacks weight, pointing to a long history of actors portraying gods in Indian entertainment—most notably in iconic TV shows like Mahabharata and Ramayana.
“Even recently, Adipurush featured a human face embodying a god. Whether these portrayals or actors did justice to the role is a debate for another day, but it’s certainly not unprecedented,” he said.