It's Official! No Yatra Sequel for Mammukka

The official announcement of the sequel to the 2019 film Yatra, starring Mammootty as the lead, has already been made. The original biographical film centered on the life of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Its sequel, Yatra 2, will shift its focus to his son, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Interestingly, the filmmakers initially approached Dulquer Salmaan to play the main role in the sequel, but the actor, known for his role in Bangalore Days, appears to have gracefully declined the offer.

Choosing Dulquer Salmaan for Yatra 2 seemed like a logical decision for the filmmakers. Given that Dulquer's father portrayed Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's father, in the original film, having Dulquer on board would have naturally generated significant buzz for the sequel. However, despite his father's acclaimed portrayal in Yatra, Dulquer reportedly turned down the opportunity.

The decision to decline Yatra 2 was influenced by potential political repercussions, according to reports. Dulquer Salmaan expressed concerns about the political context of the film, fearing that portraying a prominent political figure onscreen could adversely affect his career. Consequently, both Dulquer and the makers of Yatra 2 mutually decided not to proceed with the project.

Dulquer's decision eventually led the filmmakers to cast actor Jeeva, who will now play the titular character of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in the sequel to Yatra.

Yatra 2, written and directed by Mahi V Raghav, is highly anticipated and is scheduled for a theatrical release in February 2024. Given the political thriller genre of the film, music plays a crucial role, and music director Santosh Narayanan has been brought on board to compose the soundtrack. The film will be produced by Shiva Meka, V Celluloid, and Mahi V Raghav's production banner. Mammootty's performance in Yatra in 2019 received widespread acclaim, particularly for his role as the Puzhu actor.