MID-DAY (August 5, 2016)

After walking out of what was supposed to be his comeback vehicle, Sanjay Dutt has moved on to Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production Marco Bhau, which will now mark his return to screen after two years. Buzz is that the actor’s former flame, Madhuri Dixit, is being considered to play his leading lady.

Dutt and Madhuri were among the widely discussed couples of the ’90s, sharing an undeniable chemistry on screen, especially in their last outing, Khalnayak (1993). However, their alleged steady relationship hit rock bottom when Dutt was arrested for illegal possession of arms in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. They have remained strangers ever since.

The last time they spoke was in June, when Mads called up the actor to make sure that there was no reference to her in his proposed biopic (reported by hitlist on June 11). The dancing diva didn’t wish to revisit the past since she is happily married with two sons now.

So, will she have a change of heart and reunite with her Khalnayak hero? A source close to the project says, “Madhuri is close to Vidhu Vinod, who directed her in the 1989 hit film, Parinda. So, she might just give her nod to the film. Moreover, Vidhu Vinod is known to bring controversial figures together on reel.”

Marco Bhau will be helmed by Vidhu Vinod’s sister, Shelly Chopra, and feature Dutt as father to a grown- up daughter.

Kriti Sanon and Athiya Shetty are said to be in the running for the role.