MANILA, Philippines - Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with long-term residents, co-managers Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into the Jaipur workforce, wondering where their regular breakfast dates will lead.
Meanwhile, Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel. As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), the love of his life, quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available. Perhaps, the only one who may know the answers is Muriel, the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the big day nears, family and guests alike find themselves swept up in the irresistible intoxication of an Indian wedding.
The latest arrival at the Marigold Hotel is an alluring mystery — the American Guy who might or might not be the key to Sonny’s dreams, but is definitely about to shake things up one way or the other. The role brings the Golden Globe-winning actor Richard into the ensemble. Gere, who plays Guy, found the invitation to be in the film irresistible. “I thought the first film was terrific,” he says. “You see fewer and fewer films about the real dilemmas of our lives, so it was a rare thing. And then to see such a really good script the second time around; that doesn’t happen all that often. John and Ollie developed something wonderful… and it’s the most extraordinary cast to bang heads with.”
Gere was also drawn to the sophisticated wit of the comedy. “At times, it’s almost like a Shakespearean comedy of manners, with all these human foibles on display,” he muses. “And it seems that all the characters are mostly focused on modifying the damage Sonny wreaks on everything. As for Chambers, Gere demurs: ‘I can’t say much except that he has a lot of secrets…’“
Watch Gere’s timeless charm as he dances Bollywood style in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that opens today at Ayala Malls Cinemas from 20th Century Fox.