Raajneeti 2 in the Works Prakash Jha Confirms Sequel on 15th Anniversary

04 JUNE: Filmmaker Prakash Jha’s political drama Raajneeti celebrates its 15th anniversary today, marking a milestone for a film that earned cult status for its gripping storyline, stellar star cast, and hit soundtrack. Released in 2010, Raajneeti was widely regarded as a modern adaptation of the epic Mahabharata, weaving intricate political drama with mythological parallels. The film featured Ranbir Kapoor as the reluctant Arjun, Ajay Devgn as the cursed Karna, Nana Patekar as the wise Krishna, Katrina Kaif as the victimized Draupadi, Arjun Rampal as the golden-hearted Bhima, Manoj Bajpayee as the stubborn Duryodhana, Sarah Thompson as Subhadra, and Naseeruddin Shah as the guilty God.

Reflecting on the film’s enduring appeal, Prakash Jha shared insights about the making of the movie. He revealed that pre-production took nearly a year and involved casting over 8,000 actors to create authentic crowd scenes, which was a significant logistical challenge. Jha credited the film’s success largely to the compelling script, which attracted top actors eager to take on challenging roles. “The good thing about casting was that whoever we approached liked the script and came on board. They felt challenged to perform well,” he said.

While Raajneeti was a commercial hit, Jha humbly compared it to his other acclaimed works such as Damul (1984), Mritudand (1997), Gangajal (2003), Apaharan (2005), and Satyagraha (2013), stating that to him, they are all just films. Still, he expressed gratitude for the continued recognition and discussion surrounding Raajneeti.

The film’s memorable soundtrack featured the collaboration of four composers — the late Aadesh Shrivastava, Pritam, Shantanu Moitra, and Wayne Sharpe. The lyrics were penned by renowned poets and lyricists Gulzar, Irshad Kamil, Sameer, and Swanand Kirkire, contributing to the film’s widespread appeal.

Looking ahead, Prakash Jha confirmed that a sequel to Raajneeti is in development. “Raajneeti ki yatra toh anvarat hai — the journey of politics is constant and ongoing! There has always been a plan for Raajneeti 2,” he said. Although the project is still in its early stages with no concrete details on casting or shooting, Jha is actively working on it.

As Raajneeti completes 15 years, it remains a powerful cinematic exploration of politics and power, resonating with audiences and inspiring conversations about its impact and legacy.