Yamla Pagla Deewana-2 in Varanasi?

Unlike its prequel, Yamla Pagla Deewana, which though set in Varanasi, was never shot here, Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 will be shot in Varanasi in February next year. The film, starring Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Neha Sharma and Kristina Akheeva, is currently being shot in the UK.

The location of the shoot would be identified once the production team finalises on it, according to our sources. "It may be recalled that despite YPD having a huge Varanasi connect, with Dharmendra and Bobby Deol playing Banarasi conmen, the film was not shot on location. Instead, the Varanasi portion of the film was canned in Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh due to certain similarities between the two towns. Though a recce of the city was done, there were apprehensions about crowd control, and that prevented the cast and crewfrom coming to Varanasi then," adds the source.

Dharmendra and Bobby are again essaying the role of Banarasi conmen in YPD 2 , and this time the production team has decided to shoot here. If sources are to be believed, "Sunny Deol's recent visit to the city in connection with the shooting of Mohalla Assi has largely contributed to this decision. The actor's more than 15-day-stint in the city last year and nearly 10-days stay in April this year has left a positive impression on him. The controlled and friendly crowd was quite contrary to his Ghatak experience, which was also shot in Varanasi, but had left an unsavoury taste in his mouth due to unruly crowds."

Interestingly the actor has a couple of projects lined up to be shoot in Varanasi: Anil Sharma's Singh Saheb The Great and Neeraj Pathak's Bhaiyaji Superhit.