NEWS: Rock On sequel on hold for Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar has put the Rock On sequel on hold. The inspirational film about three friends whose aspirations dreams and yearnings to jam together on stage are thwarted by real-life exigencies, was supposed to go forward into a sequel immediately after Rock On released in 2008.

"But then Farhan went into his sister Zoya's Luck By Chance. Then came Zoya's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobarawhich was also about three friends and their dreams and yearnings. So Rock On got pushed ahead. Now Farhan is busy with other projects. One more film about a trio of friends on the road to self-discovery after Dil Chahta Hai, Rock On and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara doesn't sound quite as 
exciting as it would have if Rock On 2 had been done right after Rock On."

The director Abhishek Kapoor, we hear is almost ready with the script for Rock On 2. But at the moment Farhan is not interested. If Abhishek had his way, he would be making the Rock On sequel next after completing Kai Po Che, the Gujarat-based boys' bonding film adapted from Chetan Bhagat's novel.

The script is packed and the rockers are ready to go. But unfortunately the actor meant to helm the cast of Rock On 2 is too busy to plunge into the project.

Says a source close to the project, "Farhan is at the moment the busiest entertainer in Bollywood. He is completely consumed by Bhaag Milkha Bhaag at the moment. Farhan can't think beyond Milkha. Next he moves into Pritish Nandy Productions Shaadi Ke Side Effects. After that he starts directing Don 3. Rock On 2 is some way off for Farhan."

That's not quite how the rest of the Rock On team perceives and prioritizes the project. Apparently the rest of the team is quite eager to get the sequel on the road. Says a member of the Rock On team, "There's no point in the Rock On sequel happening 5 years after the first film. At the moment it seems Farhan won't be free to plunge into Rock On 2 for at least two years. So we just have to wait."

Abhishek Kapoor who's currently neck-deep into editing Kai Po Che admits Rock On 2 is not happening right away. "Yeah I've cracked an idea, and we are working on it. But Farhan is very busy. I've finished two drafts of the script and the final draft should be ready any time now. Now it's up to Farhan when he wants to do it."

Abhishek says two back-to-back films about three boys bonding has not dampened his spirit for the Rock On sequel. "It's completely different world in Kai Po Che. Yes, there are three friends in both Kai Po Cheand Rock On. But the world that they inhabit is far removed from one another. I wasn't too kicked by the idea of going into Rock On 2 right after the first film. But now after a break I am ready."

With Farhan putting the project on hold, Abhishek is exploring other possibilities. "I might be doing a film about two girls on a road trip."