'Cocktail 2' writer Tarun Jain REACTS to sequel boom in Bollywood: 'It might seem like producers are out of fresh ideas, but…'

After more than a decade, 'Cocktail', the 2012 Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty starrer, is getting a sequel. 'Cocktail 2', directed once again by Homi Adajania, brings together a new cast comprising of Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna in a fresh story that promises to carry forward the spirit of the original. Co-writer Tarun Jain, in his latest interview, opened up about the rise of franchise films, and responding to old criticism.With at least half a dozen sequels lined up for release over the next seven months, Hindi cinema's growing reliance on established intellectual property is hard to ignore. Jain argued that the trend is not simply about playing it safe. In an interview with Variety India, he said, "With a well-established and successful IP, producers get free marketing, a brand that the audiences recognise and associate with a film they enjoyed watching. That's why you see a lot of 'franchise films', which are not necessarily true sequels."The writer went on to conclude, "So, while it might seem like producers are running to safety, or running out of 'fresh ideas', the reality is more nuanced."While the original 'Cocktail' was written by Imtiaz Ali, Tarun Jain and Luv Ranjan took over the writing duties for the sequel. Given Ali's towering reputation in romantic Hindi cinema, stepping into the 'Cocktail' universe was always going to invite scrutiny. But Jain stated that he never let that intimidate him.In the same conversation, Tarun Jain said, "Was I scared? At the cost of sounding vain, I'd say no. The fact that one of my favourite filmmakers wrote the original only helped me to focus on the job and not be complacent. The challenge was to find characters and their conflicts which reflect the contemporary world while sticking to the spirit of the original."He added, "It's the challenge anyone would naturally feel when they are a part of such a franchise. But it was quite fun and exciting."Directed by Homi Adajania, 'Cocktail 2' stars Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles. The movie also features Dimple Kapadia, Rohit Saraf, and Ishita Dutta. It is set to hit theatres on June 19, 2026.