Mumbai: Filmmaker Vipul Shah says he had spoken to the original leads of Namastey London, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, for its sequel Namaste England but things didn't work out. The director said while Akshay was busy with prior commitments, Katrina thought she would not suit the part.
"Katrina could not have been an Indian desi girl. We both did speak about it. And she said this role is something that people may not accept her in. I was going to do the film with Akshay but his dates were blocked for two years so he recommended I go to another actor," Vipul said.
The director said he then approached Arjun Kapoor. "I met Arjun and I told him I was going to do this with Akshay but he doesn't have dates. He heard the script and agreed to do it and that's how he came into the picture. I wanted someone desi who can also look modern and who has got a certain honesty in his face. Parineeti was already part of it when I was going to do it with Akshay," he added.