East is East star Jimi Mistry joined co-star Om Puri for the gala premiere of sequel West is West at the London Film Festival, last night.
Directed by Andy De Emmony (Fantabulosa) and written by Ayub Khan-Din (East is East), the film reunites the much-loved Khan family from the first film with original cast members Mistry, Puri, Linda Bassett, Lesley Nicol and Emil Marwa returning to the big screen on February 25th 2011.
Talking from the red carpet, Mistry said: “I’ve worked with Leslee and Ayub for such a long time. I was involved with East is East as well. It’s been a big part of my life and the springboard for my career. I will always be there for it. So I came back and I’d say: Thank you for having me back!”
Newcomer Aqib Khan (16) plays the lead role as the youngest Khan, Sajid, who is sent back to Pakistan to Mrs Khan No 1 and family in the Punjab, the wife and daughters his father had abandoned 30 years earlier.
Aqib said: “This is my first film role and I’m ecstatic to be walking the red carpet with the likes of Om Puri and Ila Arun! My friends always used to joke that I looked just like Sajid out of ‘East is East’…then my teacher encouraged me to go to an open call audition and I got the part.”
‘West is West’ releases in cinemas across UK on February 25th 2011 – check back nearer the time for our review.
