‘I don’t want to remake my own film’Last week, Sanjay Dutt announced that Subhash Ghai’s 1993 cult classic Khalnayak is getting a sequel, adding that he will produce the film and reprise his role from the original. While it has not yet been confirmed who will helm the project, Ghai, the director of the original, will serve as a mentor.Speaking to us, the filmmaker said, “Sanju was passionate about making this sequel for years. Even during his time in jail, he had written to me saying, ‘Uncle, I want to make this film’. So, I sent him the concept and story. If you ask me, no one can make this film the way I did. However, I don’t want to remake my own film; besides, I am 80 now. I told Sanju, ‘If you are so keen, why don’t you produce it yourself, and I can be your creative producer’. I am sure he will find the right director for the film and announce it soon.”
Khalnayak was headlined by Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff. The sequel will pick up directly from the events of the first film, beginning after Ballu Balram (Dutt) completes his sentence and is released from prison. Apart from Dutt, who will reprise his role, the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised. There has also been speculation about Tamannaah Bhatia recreating Choli Ke Peeche, but Ghai has dismissed these reports. A source close to Dutt also clarified that the claims were untrue.
Stills from Khalnayak (1993)
‘Sanju is like my son, I’ll do a cameo for him’Ghai confirmed that the sequel will feature his trademark cameo. “Sanju is like my son, so I will do it for him. I also did one for Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. I cherish the relationships I have built in the industry over the years. There are distributors who stood by me even when some of my films didn’t work. Other than Rishi Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, who were established names when I worked with them in Karz (1980) andVidhaata (1982), I never worked with stars. I looked for newer talent who fit the parts, and they went on to become huge stars,” he added.‘Dutt sahab always told me that Sanju mein ek bachpana hai, which I believe abhi bhi hai’Sharing how Dutt and he go back a long way, Ghai added on an emotional note, “When I first met Sanju, he was barely 20. He was flamboyant and not particularly interested in becoming a star. He had the face, body and aura of a star, so I knew he would be a hero, but I never thought he could put in the hard work required to be an actor. When I cast him opposite Dilip Kumar in Vidhaata, which was his second film after Rocky (1981), I even told his father, Dutt sahab (Sunil Dutt), that Sanju has it in him, but usko acting mein thoda interest lena hoga. Dutt sahab always told me that Sanju mein ek bachpana hai, which I believe abhi bhi hai. But he is one of the most genuine people you will meet. There is no façade. Years later, when I saw him in films like Saajan and Sadak (both in 1991), I realised he had changed. I saw him taking acting seriously, and that’s when I cast him in Khalnayak. What he brought to the negative character was remarkable – the body language, the gaze. He worked extra hours to get things right. He doesn’t talk about his craft, but he is a solid actor.”Ghai also attributed the making of the sequel to Dutt’s wife, Maanayata. He said, “She is the anchor in Sanju’s life and was keen that he make a sequel.”Author: Renuka.Vyavahare@timesofindia.com
