Zeishan Quadri, the writer-director-actor who authored the script for Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur,’ has spoken out about how the film was a game changer. Zeishan, in addition to scripting the film, also featured in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2.’ He also said that development on ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur 3’ is now on hold owing to issues with the film’s rights and royalties.
In an interview with The Times of India, Zeishan stated that Gangs of Wasseypur was a “game changer” and that his first project was a “sixer.” The screenwriter went on to say that he couldn’t compare any project to that one and pledged to create something larger than ‘Wasseypur.’
In a fresh conversation with Outlook, Zeishan shared why the sequel has been paused for now.
He averred, “We spoke about making ‘Gangs of Wasseypur 3’. During lockdown also, we sat and spoke about it and when things didn’t work out, he (Kashyap) got upset. It has been halted as of now. He is the one who will take the call again. Maybe he will direct or maybe I or maybe he will only produce. So, right now, I can’t say anything about it.”
Anurag Kashyap said last year why he is not interested in developing a spin-off of Gangs of Wasseypur. He lashed out against the film’s production company, Viacom 18, telling Pinkvilla, “Nobody got any money from that film. And on that film, one studio earned so much money. They ask us, ‘extend our rights, let’s do a spin-off’, I tell them, why do you want to make a sequel of a flop film?” The Dobaaraa director added, “The studio has cheated its creators and the actors, and everybody involved with the film.”
Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadha, Huma Qureshi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Pankaj Tripathi, among others, had major roles in Gangs of Wasseypur. The film is regarded as one of the finest Hindi films.