Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; January 13, 2016)

Preparations have begun for Sanjay Dutt’s return to Bollywood. The actor, who is currently serving his jail term after conviction in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, is due to walk free in the early hours of February 25.

Although that is over a month away, his wife Manyata has started his image rebuilding process. For starters, those handling Dutt’s films and related work have been shown the door. The old guard has made way for a fresh team. A new publicist has been hired in a bid to streamline and provide information about him. A talent management agency has also been roped in to build Brand Dutt.

Says a source, “Manyata is making sure that Sanjay is surrounded by the right people and does not want him to take any wrong decisions in future. Sanjay is known to listen to his heart and work in his friends’ ventures. But this time, she wants him to be more professional in his approach. He will be guided about films and endorsement deals keeping in mind his new image.”

Adds the source, “When he was out on parole in September last year, he had conducted meetings with the talent agency to chalk out a game plan for him. Now as the date of his release is nearing, things are being put to perspective.”

Buzz is that the first film that Dutt signs will be something that portrays him in positive light. Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who will also work on the star’s biopic, might be asked to revive his Munnabhai 3 franchise that Dutt is synonymous with. The star’s production house will also be put in order to ensure the release of their long-in-the-making comic caper, Hasmukh Pighal Gaya.

Meanwhile, Dutt, who has been penning his thoughts almost daily while in jail, is also likely to come up with his autobiography soon.

Asira Tarannum & Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; August 6, 2014)

If sources are to be believed, Sanjay Dutt’s production house is apparently facing a crisis. The actor, who is currently serving a jail term, had launched his film production company and it was working on its second release, Hasmukh Pighal Gaya. Sanjay had even acted in the film. Now sources say that the production house, that is being run by his wife Manayta Dutt, is on the verge of shutting down.

A source from the industry says that people working in the production house have been asked to leave. “There is nothing happening there as of now. Some people have been asked to leave, because no major announcements will be made till the time Sanjay is in jail,” says the source.

The source adds that in Sanjay’s absence, Manyata has been finding it difficult to run the company. This alleged development follows buzz that Hasmukh Pighal Gaya, which is under post- production, has been shelved. However, a source close to the Dutts reveals that the film is still being worked upon and that it will release next summer.

It may be pointed out that Sanjay Dutt is currently doing time at Pune’s Yerawada jail, after being sentenced in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Manayata Dutt was unavailable for comment.

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; April 25, 2014)

Sanjay Dutt’s three-year-old son, Shahraan, will make his film debut in the actor’s home production, Hasmukh Pighal Gaya. Shahraan will be part of the song, Kisi Ki Muskuraton Par Ho Nisar.

Though the song is originally from Raj Kapoor’s film, Anari, it will be played twice in this film: once with Shahraan and debutant actor Armaan Ralhan featuring in it, and then again with Amitabh Bachchan.

Choreographer Ahmed Khan tells hitlist, “The song reflects the changing moods of Mumbai. It shows a mother pushing a man away from her baby’s pram; accordingly, I needed a small baby for the song and Maanyata was more than happy to let us shoot with Shahraan. After all, it is Sanju’s first home production.
We were shooting in town and she brought him along all the way from the suburbs.” Interestingly, Hasmukh Pigal Gaya will also see the debut of actor OP Ralhan’s grandson, Armaan Ralhan. Apart from appearing in a song, Amitabh Bachchan also plays a pivotal role in the film.

This apart, the film has special appearances by Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Bose. A black comedy satire that looks at the hottest day in Mumbai, the film has been helmed by first-time director, Sejal Shah.

A source says, “It has been learnt that Dutt saw the film when he was out on parole. He loved it a lot and even called Amitabh Bachchan to thank him for being part of his first home production. The film offers a quirky take on what happens to Hasmukh as he battles extreme heat over a period of eight hours in Mumbai.”