More than two decades after its release, a sequel to the beloved sports comedy-drama Bend It Like Beckham is officially in development. Director Gurinder Chadha has confirmed that she is working on a follow-up to the 2002 film that captured hearts worldwide. The original Bend It Like Beckham starred Parminder Nagra as Jess and Keira Knightley as Jules, two young women who defied cultural expectations to pursue their dreams of playing professional soccer. The film explored themes of identity, cultural conflict, and gender roles, becoming a cultural touchstone for its representation of South Asian women in sports.
As anticipation builds for the sequel, a key question on everyone's mind is whether the original cast, including Anupam Kher, will return. While Chadha is hopeful about reuniting the original cast, nothing is set in stone. She has stated that the actors "are aware that a sequel is being developed, but they obviously want to see a script before they commit". Chadha added, "I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back. Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it".
Anupam Kher played the role of Mohaan Singh Bhamra, Jess's father, in the original film. His character, a former cricketer, added depth and humor to the story, and his potential return would undoubtedly be welcomed by fans. While there's no official confirmation regarding Kher's involvement, Chadha's eagerness to bring back the original cast suggests that he may be considered for the sequel.
Chadha aims to release the Bend It Like Beckham sequel in 2027, coinciding with the original film's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. She has been waiting for the right story to come to her, stating, "After 23 years and being unable to come up with a storyline that was as good as the original, I have finally found a fantastic story for a Bend It Like Beckham follow up". The director hopes to bring the same message of "you can be anything you want" with the sequel. She told Deadline that the sequel "will be hard-hitting, of course, but it will also be incredibly joyous,” and that she hopes to "bring back that same joy and feel good about putting women and girls on the map like we did 23 years ago".
Since the release of Bend It Like Beckham, Chadha has been involved in various projects, including the Indian historical series Beecham House and the film Blinded by the Light. She is also working on Christmas Karma, a Bollywood musical set in London inspired by Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
Bend It Like Beckham explored issues and social norms about education and career paths, dating, inter-racial relationships, arranged marriages, religion, immigration, racism, and classism. The sequel is expected to address the changes in women's sports and continue to inspire audiences with its themes of empowerment and cultural identity.
