Anil Kapoor buys copyrights for Nayak; 2001 film may get sequel: Report

Anil Kapoor’s 2001 political drama Nayak may be heading towards a comeback nearly 25 years after its release. According to a reports, the actor has reportedly bought the rights to the cult classic and is keen on producing a sequel, reviving a film that has only grown in popularity over the years.

Citing a source, Bollywood Hungama reported, “Producer Deepak Mukut of Sanam Teri Kasam fame held the rights to Nayak. It is said that Anil Kapoor has bought the rights from him. He plans to hold the rights as it’s a film close to his heart. Also, he aspires to make a sequel to it."

The source further added, "He is fully aware of the love he has garnered for the film over the years and believes that the subject of Nayak has tremendous potential for a second part." However, there is no official confirmation yet regarding Nayak 2.

Originally produced by A.S. Rathnam, Nayak told the story of a fearless journalist who becomes the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a day and uses the limited time to bring sweeping reforms. Though



the film received mixed responses upon release, it steadily found a strong connect with audiences and went on to achieve cult status over time.

Directed by Shankar, Nayak was the Hindi remake of his 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan. The film starred Anil Kapoor alongside Rani Mukerji, with memorable performances by the late Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Johny Lever, Shivaji Satam and Neena Kulkarni. Pooja Batra appeared in a cameo, while Sushmita Sen featured in a special song.

The film’s central theme - a common man challenging corruption and systemic failure - remains relevant even today, which is said to be one of the key reasons behind Anil Kapoor’s interest in revisiting the story. While the idea of Nayak 2 is still at an aspirational stage, any potential sequel is expected to be shaped not just by nostalgia but by contemporary political realities.

For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement, but the possibility of Nayak returning to the big screen has already sparked excitement among audiences.