Producer Guneet Monga made an interesting revelation on Komal Nahta’s podcast Game Changers: The Producer Series. During the interaction when she was asked whom she would cast opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a hypothetical sequel to the much-loved film The Lunchbox, if she had to replace the late Irrfan Khan, Monga named veteran actor Anil Kapoor.
Guneet Monga on her cast for The Lunchbox 2
Monga, who produced The Lunchbox alongside Karan Johar, said in the rapid-fire round on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers: The Producer Series, without hesitation that Anil Kapoor would be her choice. The 2013 film, directed by Ritesh Batra, remains one of India’s most celebrated independent films and gained international acclaim for its subtle storytelling and heartfelt performances. Starring Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Nimrat Kaur, the film delicately explored human connection through a misdelivered lunchbox in Mumbai.
Irrfan Khan’s portrayal of the lonely widower Saajan Fernandes was both poignant and powerful, and his absence is deeply felt across the industry. Monga’s choice of Kapoor, a seasoned actor known for his versatility and emotional depth, stirred imaginations about what a sequel could look like.
Guneet Monga, who won an Academy Award for The Elephant Whisperers, continues to be a force in the Indian film industry, championing meaningful cinema.
Guneet on Gangs of Wasseypur 3
Guneet also shared her thoughts on the much-anticipated Gangs of Wasseypur 3 on the show. The acclaimed producer spoke candidly about the future of the cult franchise and suggested that filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane would be the right choice to take the story forward.
While speaking on the show’s rapid-fire segment, Guneet said, “I think Anurag Kashyap will be happy with Vikramaditya Motwane for this. Vikram has been an integral part of the edits and everything. Zoya [Akhtar] is my favourite director in the country, but for this, I think Vikram.” The statement has sparked excitement among fans of Gangs of Wasseypur films, which were directed by Anurag Kashyap and have since achieved cult status for their gritty storytelling and iconic characters.
Gangs of Wasseypur had an ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Richa Chadha, Huma Qureshi, Reema Sen, Piyush Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Viineet Kumar Siingh, Jameel Khan, Vipin Sharma, etc.