Will Sanjay Dutt manage to be the face of RajKumar Hirani's superhit franchise and popular Bollywood remakesIJ Team Viva finds out
In 1997, when Sanjay Dutt was finally released on bail after serving 18 months in jail, there were questions raised on his career and future. Ram Gopal Varma’s Daud was his opening film after his jail-term, which then failed to make an impact on Bollywood. But there was no dearth of offers.
Even after charges against him and his court case, the filmmakers had trust in the brand Sanjay Dutt, and it was probably that trust that drove directors like Rajkumar Hirani to offer him a project like Munna Bhai MBBS. Dutt once again became the most sought-after actor for the directors who wanted a star, who could make an impact on box office, for their films. The last role that we remember him for was of the crime lord Kancha Cheena in Agneepath.
Now that the actor prepares for a jail sentence of three and a half years after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction under the Arms Act in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, the question is not only about the money that’s riding on him, with films like PK, Policegiri and Zanjeer in pipeline. It is, will the actor manage to be the face of brand Munna Bhai after his jail term of over three and a half years. “I can’t imagine Munna Bhai series without Sanjay Dutt. But unfortunately, things are not in our hands. I feel it is a very harsh punishment. I am surprised. I will have to speak to the producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra about it. I can’t take a call on that. In the next two days, we will have a chat and discuss what needs to be done,” said director Subhash Kapoor, who might direct the third sequel. It’s not yet decided if Kapoor or Rajkumar Hirani will direct the film.
Taran Adarsh, who estimated that over 75 to 80 crore rupees, excluding PK, is at stake, says that predicting how will the jail term impact the actor’s future, is difficult at present.
“I think we will have to wait and watch. It’s too early to say anything,” he said.
The entire industry, especially his producers stand in support of Sanjay Dutt and some say that the jail term would not have an affect on the brand value of the actor.
“He is an excellent actor and all those who know him personally know that he is a very good human being. Whatever happened is very sad but I am sure Sanjay will never lose his fans and the industry will always stand in his support,” shared a film distributor.
The entire industry took to Twitter to express their concerns and keeping in mind the tweets like, “I am not contesting/denying the law, but it breaks my heart that Sanjay Dutt has to face this. He has done so much, so selflessly for so many!” (Vishal Dadlani) and “I was hopeful there would be a happy ending but alas life is not a movie, heart broken: Sanjay Dutt has to go to jail for five years. I expected mercy! Alas it did not happen,” (Mahesh Bhatt), it is definitely tough to say how the jail term will affect the actor’s career and his position in the industry.