MUMBAI: Ankita Srivastav has been chosen from eight shortlisted girls to play the lead in Nayee Padosan 2, after a face hunt launched by the film’s makers.

The selection was done by a panel comprising actors Govinda, Sohail Khan, Amrita Arora, and filmmaker Nitin Manmohan as well as Nayee Padosan director B H Tharun Kumar. The contest witnessed several rounds including a ramp walk, acting sessions and dance numbers.

Says Tharun Kumar, who will be directing the Nayee Padosan sequel, “We had organised a contest, which brought in participants from all over India through Zee TV and While Leaf Entertainment owned by Pooja Ghai and Vikaas Kalantri. We were searching for a fresh new female face to star with Vikaas Kalantri and Aslam Khan. The earlier film showed three young men (Vikaas Kalantri, Anuj Sawhney, Aslam Khan) falling for a beautiful young woman (Mahek Chehal) comes to live in their neighbourhood. Ankita Srivastav from Lucknow will be the new female lead of the sequel, Nayee Padosan 2. The story of this film will begin from where we left off earlier. The shooting commences in May.”