Vidya Blan, Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi will return as lead stars in a sequel to Ishqiya, Shemaroo and Vishal Bhardwaj announced on March 18.

According to the Mumbai Mirror, Abhishek Chaubey is being retained as the film’s director and is giving final touches to the script.

There is a talk of adding a couple of more actors to the lead cast.

Vishal Bahrdwaj will score the music, while Gulzar will pen the lyrics.

Filming is scheduled to begin mid 2011.

According to unconfirmed reports, the sequel is set in Mumbai, with Vidya Balan playing a bold urban woman willing to break social norms.

The original film, released in 2010, was set in the rustic region of Gorakhpur in UP. It revolved around three romantic personalities played by Warsi, Balan and Shah.

Balan played a potty mouthed scheming widow, two-timing an uncle and nephew duo of small-time crooks from Bhopal, played by Shah and Warsi.

Stellar performance by the three stars made the film a huge success; it was screened at prestigious international film festivals including the 34th Cairo International Film Festival.

Close to a decade and a half after his last directorial effort HU TU TU (Tabu, Nana Patekar, Suneil Shetty), there are talks that acclaimed film maker Gulzar would be returning to wielding the megaphone once again for a film with Vidya Balan being the central protagonist. With decades of experience behind him and some author backed characters that he has lent to veteran actors like Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha in the past, Gulzar has seemingly set his eyes on Vidya Balan who is pretty much in the same league as far as an actor with a substance is concerned.

Vidya is (obviously) guarded in her tone though while commenting, “At the moment I would only commit to doing the Jessica Lal film. Inshallah, I do hope though that Gulzar saab makes the film with me sooner than later. That will be THE moment for me in 2010 after a beautiful 2009. Beyond that I don’t wish to comment any further on the film.”

Buzz is that Vidya Balan has been roped in by lyricist Gulzar for his next project. Reports say that Gulzar as well as his daughter Meghna are to direct a film each. Both of them are supposed to cast stunning Vidya in their flicks. Seems Gulzar Saab is much impressed by the actress who proved herself again in ‘Paa’ with her astounding performance.

Gulzar is all set to take the reins of director for the second time after Sunil Shetty-Tabu starrer ‘Hu Tu Tu’ and this time it will be a women-centric film. Gulzar, who has seen some parts of movie ‘Ishqiya’, was amazed with Vidya’s acting skills and billed her as “truly an outstanding actress”.

Sources say that Meghna’s film will be a hard hitting marital drama. On the other hand Vidya is pretty excited to work with the Oscar winning lyricist. The actress says that she considers M S Subbalaxmiji, Waheeda Rehmanji and Gulzarsaab as the true embodiments of grace and culture.

We’ve seen Gulzar reciting poetry at literary dos, Naseeruddin Shah making his presence felt in films and Vishal Bhardwaj creating his magic
behind the scenes.

But the three of them playing tennis? Well, that was a first, atleast for those who saw them having a go at the tennis courts recently.

The three were at a tennis event in Mumbai for senior citizens and Vishal too joined in. Apparently, Naseer and Gulzar are regular tennis players, so it was an effortless game for them. But the do had its share of women as well, actually, make that one lovely lady — Vidya Balan.

The actress, casually dressed in a white kurta with jeans, was the chief guest for the occasion and gave away trophies to all three of them.

Vidya, who has worked with both Vishal and Naseer and is a big fan of Gulzar was delighted to be in the presence of all three at the same time. We noticed she was in a white kurta. To make up for Gulzar not wearing his trademark white kurta to the tennis do, maybe?

We caught Vidya Balan having a lot of fun at a tennis match recently. Well, she was there to cheer for her men in shorts – Naseeruddin Shah and Gulzar. It was a senior citizen’s tennis match but seeing the men in action, we almost forgot they were ‘old’. Take a look!

The film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan. It was shot extensively in Wai near Pune.

Arshad Warsi plays Naseeruddin’s nephew. Both of them are criminals who intend to retire. On of their travels, they meet a femme fatale widow, played by Vidya Balan. She tricks both of them into falling in love with her. When the duo realizes that she is two-timing them, they want to kill her but they cannot.

Vidya and Arshad share a one-minute long lip-lock scene. The actress had to be convinced to do the scenes as she was a little hesitant.

Like all other Vishal Bhardwaj films, the dialogues (penned by him) are uncompromising, authentic and tongue-in-cheek. Arshad asks Naseeruddin, “Aapka ishq, ishq aur mera ishq sex?”

In another scene, Arshad asks Vidya, “Mein kaisa lag raha hu?” to which she replies, “C***-ium sulphate!”

The film is directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Vishal’s assistant director and co-writer on films like Maqbool, Omkara, Kaminey and The Blue Umbrella.

The guitar track in the promo is impressive and Ishqiya promises to be another stellar soundtrack by Gulzar has penned the lyrics.

Arshad Warsi had told StarBoxOffice in an earlier conversation, “Vidya Balan plays a very bitchy role in Ishqiya. She makes both Naseer Sir and I fall in love with her. It is a very different, dark film and I feel fortunate to share screen space with Naseeruddin Shah.”

Ishqiya, one of the most anticipated films this year hits theatres in December this year.

Vidya Balan has lent her voice to one of the stories in the Karadi Tales.

What’s more Balan along with Gulzar did the Karadi Tales reading in Mumbai.

Balan shot to fame in the film industry with Parineeta, which was produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Pradeep Sarkar. She debuted in the movie opposite Saif Ali Khan. Prior to that she was seen in Balaji Telefilms popular television show Hum Paanch.

When Gulzar launched another audio book of his now well-known Karadi Tales, it was Vidya Balan who donned the role of storyteller.

The actress on Tuesday evening voiced a story for group of little kids who were more than happy to listen in.

The actress has lent her voice to two books titled The Lizard’s Tail and Little Vinayak

“This is a very innovative way. You know that someone is reading along with you. There is music, there are such colorful illustrations. I think it’s wonderful because reading is very important for kids and also because it takes you to another world. It opens up the world for you. So audio books are a great way,” said the actress.

The Karadi Tales come with an endorsement from its creator.

“Whenever you think books are a burden on you, just pick up a Karadi Tales and you will enjoy reading, I can assure you,” said the celebrated author-lyricist Gulzar.

The actress was beaming after shedding all the extra kilos.

“It wasn’t a point of concern for me. Today when people are telling me I’ve lost weight, I say yes, thank you. But it’s no big deal for me,” Vidya Balan told CNN-IBN.

The latest series and campaign by Karadi Tales also features Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan and cricketr Rahul Dravid among others.