Bill Nighy has revealed the cast of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel were welcomed back to India with open arms by the local residents.

The Pride star reprises his role in the film about a group of Brits who retire to the rather chaotic hotel, alongside Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie and Penelope Wilton and recently finished filming the sequel.

Bill said: "It was lovely and it was great to see all the Indian people who helped us make the first one and they were so happy to see us come back. Not least because the first one was such a big hit.

"It was nice to be back there because you knew the ropes and it was a little easier."

And Bill revealed new cast member Richard Gere quickly fitted into the gang.

He added: " And everyone's back Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Diana Hardcastle, everyone.

"And Richard Gere has joined us, he's a new member of the cast. He was great, he slipped in very nicely and it was all very cool."

The 2012 film, which also starred Dev Patel and Tom Wilkinson, was a surprise hit earning more than £82 million at the box office worldwide having been made for around £6 million.

The sequel, which will be released in 2015, will pick up where the first film left off, and features Indian hotelier Sonny (Dev) preparing for his marriage to Sunaina (Tena Desae).