‘No Filmmaker Wants To Hurt People, We Want To Entertain’: Jaat director Gopichand Malineni Over Controversial Church Scene

April 19, 2025: Despite a lukewarm box office response and controversy surrounding a particular scene, Sunny Deol and director Gopichand Malineni have announced a sequel to their latest action film Jaat, titled Jaat 2. The surprising news comes just days after the film’s release on April 10, with Malineni revealing that the story was always intended to continue.

“In the film, the last sequence is a lead-in for the sequel. I was confident while shooting Jaat that it will work well for us to make a second part,” Malineni said in a post-release interview.

Jaat marks Sunny Deol’s return to the big screen after the massive success of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023). Despite the hype, the actioner—which also stars Saiyami Kher—has earned a modest ₹62 crore so far. Malineni acknowledged that the earnings fell short of expectations, attributing it to a last-minute delay in censor board clearance that impacted the film’s advance bookings.

Adding to the film’s challenges, Jaat sparked controversy over a scene featuring Randeep Hooda in a crucifixion-like pose inside a church, leading to an FIR in Punjab against Deol, Hooda, Malineni, and producer Naveen Yerneni. Following backlash from Christian groups, the makers swiftly removed the controversial sequence.

“We deeply regret it and have taken quick action,” read an official statement from the team. “Our intention was not to hurt any religious sentiments. We sincerely apologise to everyone whose beliefs have been hurt.”

Malineni also clarified that the background had already been altered based on censor board feedback even before public objections surfaced.

While prepping for his next Telugu project, which begins filming in June, Malineni is simultaneously developing Jaat 2. “The sequel’s idea is already in place,” he confirmed, hinting at a broader vision for his Bollywood career. “I want to work with Salman [Khan] and Shah Rukh [Khan] sir in mass entertainers and show how I imagine them as heroes.”

With the announcement of Jaat 2, the team appears to be doubling down on the franchise potential, hoping to build momentum despite the early hurdles. Whether the sequel can turn the tide remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Malineni and Deol aren’t backing down.