Anil Kapoor's '24' season 2: Everything you would want to know

Rajesh Khera joins the cast of '24' : The latest to join the cast of '24', a drama based on the American series of the same name, is Rajesh Khera. According to an online portal, Rajesh has been roped in to play the role of a military officer. When contacted, he refused to confirm the news, nor did he divulge any details. However, as per sources, the actor has only a few scenes opposite Anil Kapoor. Rajesh Khera was last seen in 'Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat'.

Sakshi Tanwar and Surveen Chawla join Anil Kapoor's '24'?

Anil Kapoor is leaving no stone unturned for the second season of his mini TV series, '24'. According to an entertainment portal, the makers have roped in Sakshi Tanwar and Surveen Chawla in prominent roles for the second season. The report states that Sakshi, who is currently shooting for Aamir Khan's Dangal, will be seen as part of Anil’s anti-terrorist squad. She will be playing a tough cop. In the last season, Mandira Bedi had played a similar role. Also, Surveen of Hate Story 2 fame, will return to TV with '24'. A source was quoted saying in the report that Surveen will be playing the character of the antagonist's girlfriend. She will be seen in a glamorous avatar on the show

Anil Kapoor 'nervous' about second season of '24'

Actor-producer Anil Kapoor, who garnered appreciation for his role as Jai Singh Rathore in the drama TV series “24”, says he is “nervous, anxious and super excited” about the second season of the show. “A little nervous, anxious and super excited! I can feel the adrenaline pumping as I approach the set of #24IndiaS2,” Anil posted on Twitter on Sunday. The first look of the second season was launched in October. The show is an adaptation of the popular international show of the same name. The first season featured Mandira Bedi, Tisca Chopra, Neil Bhoopalam in important roles with Anupam Kher and Shabana Azmi also featuring in the show. "Delhi Belly" director Abhinay Deo, who directed the first part, will again helm the second season, which will be aired next year.

Anil Kapoor is back on TV with a new mission

After a two-year gap, the finite espionage series '24' is back with its second edition. Armed with a new mission and boundless action, thrill and drama, Season 2 promises to be even more stylish and daunting than the first one. At the official announcement of the new season, Anil Kapoor along with Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors, and RS Kalsi, executive director, marketing and sales, MSIL, unveiled a poster with an intense Jai Singh Rathod (Anil’s character) sporting a rugged look. Other spokespersons included Manisha Sharma, programming head of Colors, and director Abhinay Deo. Adding to the style quotient of the show will be a super sleek S-cross vehicle which will steer Jai’s journey in the show. Coming on board as the presenting sponsor, Kalsi said, “Both S-cross and Jai Singh Rathod are smooth and sophisticated from the inside and tough from the outside. This integration will help us in strengthening our expanded brand reach.” Raj expressed his delight about the association and praised Anil’s commitment towards making the second season even grander. Anil and Abhinay shared their happiness at having received praise from Howard Gordon, the director of the original 24 series in the USA, declaring 24 India as a better version! The actor also made a special mention of top cop Rakesh Maria, whose guidance helped him to enhance his character. 24 Season 2 is slated to go on air in 2016.

Second Season Bigger: At the launch Anil claimed that the second season is bigger than the first season. "In the previous season, I played this character of Jai Singh Rathore who protects the future prime minister of the country but in this season it's actually more than that and much bigger than that - he is trying to protect the country. So the story, the art and the excitement is much bigger in the second season."

Delay, Telecast by 2016: According to few reports in the media during the interviews of 'Dil Dhadakne Do', Anil Kapoor had stated that the shooting of the show would start by August but it has been delayed. Rensil Disilva was quoted in a report saying that they were initially planning to resume the shooting by October 2015 but it has got pushed and will began by November start. Which means the show will go on-air only by 2016.

Talks on with Tabu but No Urmila: Various names from the Bollywood fraternity being part of the show is doing the rounds. One amongst them is Urmila but Abinay Deo said there's no truth to it. "The few names that we are talking to are Akshaye, Tabu, Prachi, but that is all yet to unfold. We haven't spoken to Urmila about the show, we don't know where that came from," Deo told PTI. The Delly Belly director is excited to cast Tabu, "She (Tabu) would be outstanding. She is my favourite actress. We tried to get her for season one but that time there were other constraints. Let's see... There will be surprises (in casting)," he said. Deo further added that the 'Chandni Bar' actress has shown interest in the show '24'.

When asked what feedback has Tabu given, he says, "She would try to be part of the show. We are trying to work out different permutations and combinations between us. The doors are never closed, if not work this season then next season."

200 days shooting: As Abhinay shoots at a stretch, he requires his actors to give him time accordingly. "We want good actors doing good roles and give their best performance. Casting is a huge exercise and my job is to make sure actors get good roles," he said. "We need clean dates straight. We shoot at a stretch for 12 hours a day and we shoot for six days so that is like 200 days of shooting straight. So we need that kind of commitment from actors," the director said.

Hardcore Action and research: Anil said: "Obviously we have to meet a lot of people. Like last season, (then Mumbai police chief) Rakesh Maria helped us immensely when we went with him to do research. He had even met our writers and devoted a lot of time to them." "And for this season, there are numerous people, I can't take their names because all of them are at a very high posts in CBI, RAW who protect our country... we've tried to make it as real as possible. I was very motivated and inspired by all the people and all the officers who fight and work on the front and on the desk and in the offices to protect our country," he added.