'Bend It Like Beckham' sequel: Catching up with the original cast

Dubai: 23 years, that’s how long it has been since one of the most iconic Hollywood films was released. Bend it like Beckham, which premiered in April 2022 will now have a sequel, two decades later.

The announcement was made over the weekend by the director, Gurinder Chadha. In an interview with Deadline she said, “I’m excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women’s game.”

The cast of the hit film stars Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Punjabi, Anupam Kher, and more. While Chadha said the original cast are informed of the sequel, we can only hope we get to see them all together, once again on screen.

But what have they been up to all these years?

Nagra played the protagonist Jess, in the 2002 hit film. Nagra then went on to continue a career in films and television shows.

Nagra was seen in films like Birdbox starring Sandra Bullock, and most recently in the crime-thriller show DI Ray.

Knightley, who played Juliette Paxton, also went on to continue her career in the film industry and is one of the biggest A-listers in the industry right now. After her role in Bend it like Beckham she went on to snag one of her biggest roles in her career, where she played Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (2005).

From there Knightley rose to fame as starred in several other films including the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Love Actually (2003), Begin Again (2013), and more.

Her most recent work was the spy thriller, Black Doves, alongside Ben Whishaw on Netflix.

Meyers who played Joe, the football coach and love interest of Jess (Nagra), went on to pursue a career in films, television shows and music.

He appeared in the tv show, The Tudors, and in hit films like Mission Impossible III and August Rush, in which he played a musician and performed songs like This Time and Elgar/Something Inside and more.

Panjabi played one of the most important character on the hit film, Jess’ sister, Pinky. Not only did she make us relate to our own families, she also stole the show with her role.

Panjabi pursued a career in films and tv shows after Bend it like Beckham. She was seen in shows like Departure, Blindspot, Hijack, The Good Wife and more.

She went on to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife, in 2010.

In the interview with Deadline, Chadha revealed the sequel to Bend it like Beckham is slated to release in 2027.