With Sanjay Dutt announcing a break from work to seek medical treatment, here's what is up with Bhuj, Shamshera, Torbaaz, and KGF: Chapter 2
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 13, 2020)

As the trailer of Sadak 2 dropped online yesterday, Pooja Bhatt dedicated it to co-star and dear friend Sanjay Dutt. While the sequel to 1991 hit Sadak is poised for release on August 28, Dutt has as many as four films in the pipeline. Dutt announced on Tuesday that he is taking a break from his professional commitments to seek medical treatment.

Among the movies he was working on was Yash Raj Films' Shamshera, which has him team up with Ranbir Kapoor. An industry insider says, "Sanjay has only three days' patchwork shoot remaining. Right now, the makers are only concerned about his health and praying for his speedy recovery." The actor has another big-ticket venture in Ajay Devgn's Bhuj: The Pride of India. It is heard that he had completed filming most of his portions of the war drama before the lockdown was announced. Co-producer Bhushan Kumar remained unavailable for comment.

Raring to go at 61, Sanjay Dutt was to foray into regional cinema with KGF: Chapter 2. The makers had shared his first look from the film on his birthday on July 29. Karthik Gowda, creative executive producer, reveals that the unit is slated to resume work on August 20. "Of the 25-day shoot, Sanjay has only two days' work remaining. It is an extension shoot, so [his unavailability] shouldn't be a problem. I have spoken to him and wish he comes back as soon as possible," he says.

Meanwhile, the actor's long-in-the-making Torbaaz is set to enjoy a digital premiere on Netflix. Producer Rahul Mittra, who has developed a deep bond with him while collaborating on the drama, says his best wishes are with Dutt. "Torbaaz is a project that Sanju is very proud of, but I am not thinking about the film at this point. This is the time to pray for his good health. As a friend, it pains me to see so much speculation surrounding his health. I urge everyone to exercise restraint."

Sources say Sanjay Dutt's long-in-the-making film picked up by Netflix; to mark his third digital premiere after Sadak 2, Bhuj
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 14, 2020)

After Bhuj: The Pride of India and Sadak 2, another Sanjay Dutt-starrer appears to be gearing up for a digital premiere. It is learnt that the actor's long-in-the-making film, Torbaaz, has been picked up by Netflix and is tentatively slated for an October release.

A source reveals, "The OTT giant will announce its new slate this week. Torbaaz, which revolves around child suicide bombers in Afghanistan, is one of the many films that it has acquired in the past month. Though the release date of each project has yet to be determined, the Girish Malik-directed venture is pacing towards completion." The movie, also starring Nargis Fakhri, had gone on floors in Kyrgyzstan, in December 2017. After a spate of intermittent schedules, the makers had finally wrapped up the shoot in February 2019.

mid-day reached out to producer Rahul Mittra, who remained evasive about the Netflix deal as he said, "We are in talks with big OTT players, but let's wait for the final announcement."

Makers of Randeep Hooda's Mard initiate talks with UP govt to kick off shoot in the state
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 19, 2020)

While the Maharashtra government has allowed the resumption of shoots, several states are treading with caution when easing the restrictions. This has posed a problem for producer Rahul Mittra, whose next, Mard featuring Randeep Hooda, is set in Lucknow. The producer reveals that he initiated talks with members of the Uttar Pradesh government — including Raju Srivastav, chairman, Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council — about the possibility of conducting shoots in the state.

"I attended a webinar with members of the UP government last week, where I formally apprised them of my film and sought clarity [on the way ahead]. I am hoping to hear from them soon. Looking at the current situation, I don't think we can start shooting before August," says Mittra.

A change of location is not a feasible option for the producer, who insists that Lucknow is integral to the love story. "A major portion of the film has to be shot in the city. I can't compromise on the location as that is the real hero of my film."

Initially planning to kick off film sans leading lady, makers of Randeep Hooda-starrer Mard utilise lockdown to go through self-taped auditions and finalise heroine
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 18, 2020)

Come May 1, Randeep Hooda was to take his film, Mard, on floors in Uttar Pradesh. With the Coronavirus lockdown being extended to May 3, the makers may have to alter their schedule, but producer Rahul Mittra and director Sai Kabir are not complaining. The unforeseen break has been a blessing in disguise for the makers who are utilising the time to zero in on the film's leading lady.

"The track of the leading lady is crucial to the film. Ideally, we were supposed to finish casting by the first week of April. However, now that we have more time, we are [scouting for more options]. The casting director has been mailing [self-taped] auditions to us, and we will soon finalise an actor," informs Mittra.

The filmmaker adds that the pre-production work on the drama is progressing smoothly despite the current restrictions. "We are all working from home, and I am in touch with Sai, Randeep and the executive producer. We are looking at this period as a boon since it allows us to invest more time in the script." In telling a love story from the perspective of an Indian alpha male, the makers hope to showcase various facets of the Indian male personality. "Randeep is picky about his projects. So when you have someone like him on board, you are all the more confident [about your product]. I know this subject will raise eyebrows, I'm prepared for it," signs off Mittra.

In the making for almost three years, producer of Sanjay Dutt's Torbaaz to release the film in October
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 14, 2020)

Over two-and-a-half years since the project went on floors, Sanjay Dutt's Torbaaz is finally gearing up for release. Producer Rahul Mittra says that the actioner, which revolves around child suicide bombers in Afghanistan, is eyeing an October 2020 release. "This is the worst time to even think about releasing one's film, as all movies are being pushed [due to the Coronavirus scare]. But I can assure you that Torbaaz will be a 2020 offering; we are planning to release the film in October."

Interestingly, while Dutt has been mum about Torbaaz, he took to social media yesterday to announce that his other offering, KGF Chapter 2, will hit the marquee on October 23.

Torbaaz, which also stars Nargis Fakhri, had rolled in Kyrgyzstan in December 2017, followed by another shooting stint in May 2018. After a spate of intermittent shoots, the Girish Malik-directed venture reached the finish line in February last year. Ask Malik why the post-production took almost a year, and he attributes it to the visual effects employed in the thriller. "The film is high on VFX; we have recreated the entire city of Kabul with the help of special effects. Such films take time." Mittra chimes in, "Since we had to [depict] Afghanistan, we did a recce for six months to get the right location [and zeroed in on Kyrgyzstan]. So, one can't say that the film is delayed because such processes take time."

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 17, 2019)

Arjun Rampal may have his hands full with daddy duties, but he is squeezing in time to sit for script narrations. The actor has greenlit his next, a supernatural thriller titled Anjaan - The Unknown. The movie, co-produced by Rahul Mittra and Raju Chadha, will see Rampal play a cop in hot pursuit of a serial killer.

Mittra, who previously collaborated with Rampal on Daddy (2017), says that the script is a mix of a whodunit and horror. "Set in a hill station, the film revolves around three girls who are found murdered under mysterious circumstances. Arjun essays the role of a cop who investigates these killings and finds a common thread linking them all," he narrates.

The Amitendra Vats-directed venture will go on floors in January. "We will be doing recces in Scotland and Uttarakhand, before deciding on the final location. Simultaneously, we are finalising rest of the cast," says Mittra, adding that Rampal was their first choice for the lead. "As soon as he heard the script, he said yes."

Though Battle Of Saragarhi didn’t work out, actor is collaborating with makers on a new-age romance
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 10, 2019)

Randeep Hooda, who recently wrapped up Imtiaz Ali’s romcom, which has Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan as leads, has signed on for another new-age love story. Titled Mard, the film will be helmed by Sai Kabir (director of Kangana Ranaut’s Revolver Rani) and borrows the name from Amitabh Bachchan’s 1985 drama.

Rahul Mittra, who is producing the film with Raju Chadha, informed, “Mard means strong and macho, however this film will showcase 50 different shades of an Indian man. It’s an entertaining film with a message.”

Randeep plays an impulsive lover, an Indian alpha male. “He is lovable and naive, but also menacing and obnoxious at times,” Rahul added.

The film will go on the floors in November. “I’ve worked with Sai Kabir on Revolver Rani and I believe he is one of the best new-age directors today. I love his passion for cinema,” the filmmaker asserted, going on to reveal it was a unanimous decision to cast Randeep. “In a way, he and I started our careers together with Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and we share a great bond. I believe he will be able to portray the alpha male perfectly as he is one of the few actors who can break his own DNA to get into the skin of character.”

The film is targeting a 2020 release and the makers are on the lookout for an actress who would make an interesting pairing with Randeep.

Meanwhile, the Rajkumar Santoshi directorial Battle of Saragarhi, on which Randeep and Rahul were collaborating earlier, has been shelved. As part of his prep for the period-drama, the actor had grown his beard but according to Rahul, creative differences came in the way. “We pulled off an ambitious launch event with three of the then cabinet ministers giving the clap. But eventually someone else made a film (Kesari) on the same story,” he signed off. 

Sanjay Dutt wraps up Torbaaz, producer asserts film will be 'his next release'
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 14, 2019)

Over 14 months after it went on floors, the shooting of Sanjay Dutt's Torbaaz is finally complete. Producer Rahul Mittra says that his leading man recently completed the last stint in Mumbai before training his focus on Ashutosh Gowariker's Panipat. "We shot at Essel Studios where a special set was erected."

The Nargis Fakhri starrer - that revolves around child suicide bombers - kicked off in Kyrgyzstan in December 2017 followed by another stint in May 2018. Ask him about the intermittent spells of shooting that led to the delay, and Mittra says, "It is an ambitious and difficult film. There is a lot of VFX involved. Some films take a long time."

However, he assures that he will make up for lost time - even as Dutt's Kalank is slated to hit theatres on April 19, Mittra says Torbaaz will be "Sanjay's next release". "Finding a right date is important, we are weighing the options. We will announce the date next month."

Unlike remaining cast that went to town promoting Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, Sanjay Dutt skips publicity events; producer blames actor's 'busy schedule'
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 25, 2018)

Considering his comeback vehicle, Bhoomi, proved to be a damp squib, one would have assumed that Sanjay Dutt would be up and about for his next, Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster 3. Surprisingly, the actor gave the promotional activities for Tigmanshu Dhulia's action thriller a miss. With two days to go before the movie hits screens, the rest of the cast - including Chitrangda Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill and Mahie Gill - have been on a promotional blitzkrieg. However, Dutt has been stationed in Lucknow, shooting for Prassthanam instead.

The film's producer Rahul Mittra says, "Sanju has a busy schedule. He has been shooting back-to-back - first Torbaaz and now, Prassthanam. He also fell sick during the Lucknow leg of Prassthanam shoot. So he had to put in more time to compensate for the days lost."

In the month-long run-up to the film's release, Dutt was seen attending only the trailer launch in Mumbai. He also graced a publicity event in Singapore that coincided with his family holiday. Dutt had flown down to Mumbai last weekend to celebrate wife Maanayata's birthday. However, he zipped back to Lucknow on Monday, hours before the song launch of the film.

Defending his lead actor, Mitrra insists that Dutt has complete faith in the third instalment of the franchise. "Besides promoting the film on social media, he also attended an event in Lucknow last week. We celebrated presenter Raju Chadha's birthday in Delhi yesterday for which he flew in. He'll also be attending an event today." Sources say Dutt will be back in Mumbai in time for his birthday celebrations on July 29.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; July 17, 2018)

Having reportedly paid a hefty sum to acquire the rights to Lag Jaa Gale (Woh Kaun Thi, 1964), in 2013, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster director Tigmanshu Dhulia is making certain that every penny spent on it is worthwhile. While he apparently used the original number — rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and orchestrated by Madan Mohan — in the second instalment of his film then, he has also created a rehashed version of the track for the upcoming third edition, which features Sanjay Dutt.

Leading ladies Chitrangda Singh and Mahie Gill are set to scintillate viewers in the promotional number, which has been rendered by Jonita Gandhi. The singer was also part of the video, which was shot yesterday.

“Performing this song is a daunting task because one can’t do justice to the beauty of the original. Lata Mangeshkar ji and Madan Mohan ji have created magic. To say the song is iconic would be an understatement,” says Gandhi. Rendering the track is even more special to her since it formed a part of her music education. “Like most people, I too have grown up listening to, learning, and attempting [to sing] this song. It is close to my heart. I hope people appreciate it.”

The original number was a slow and romantic one, and the revisited version — created by Rana Mazumdar — has contemporary tunes. Yet, producer Rahul Mittra says the team has tried to retain the original essence. “The song epitomises the essence of our film.”

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 13, 2018)

With only a fortnight to go before Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 hits screens, one would assume that Sanjay Dutt will be neck-deep in promotional activities for the movie. However, the actor found himself on the set of the Tigmanshu Dhulia-directed film yesterday — this time, for the shoot of the promotional song, Kesariya Jugni.

The franchise’s theme song, Jugni, has been rendered by the Jalandhar-based Nooran Sisters for this instalment. Directed by the actor’s close friend Ajay Arora, the video sees Dutt shaking a leg with the singers.

Says producer Rahul Mittra, “The Jugni track is integral to the franchise. It has been composed by Anjjan Bhattacharya and penned by Kumaar. We thought a video with Sanju and the Nooran sisters will be a treat for the audience. The first two versions had a distinct Punjabi touch to them. Since the third part is set in Rajasthan, we were keen to give it a new flavour. The track is called Kesariya Jugni.”

Originally an old Punjabi folk song, Jugni has been interpreted differently by the various composers who have worked on the film’s earlier instalments. In the first part, it was rendered by Babbu Maan while Jazzy B went behind the mic for part two.

Squeezing in time from his family holiday, Sanjay Dutt all set to launch Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 trailer in Singapore today
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 4, 2018)

It's not all play for Sanjay Dutt, who headed to Singapore for a short holiday with wife Maanayata, children Shahraan and Iqra, and good friend Paresh Ghelani on Monday. The actor, we hear, will pull some time out to launch the trailer of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 in the country today.

Given Dutt's popularity in Singapore, the producers decided to host a trailer launch at the Grand Ballroom of Singapore Swimming Club in Tanjong Rhu. Says a member from the promotional team, "It is the first time that the trailer of a Bollywood film is being unveiled in Singapore. Sanjay enjoys a wide fan base here, so, it made sense to host a special event. The event will also include a segment, In Conversation With Sanjay Dutt, where the actor will reflect on his journey in the movies. The audience will also get an opportunity to interact with him."

A small fashion segment will follow, with Dutt taking to the ramp with the best dressed 'saheb' and 'biwi' from the audience, the source adds. "Also, one lucky member will get a jadoo ki jhappi from him. After the launch, Sanju will stay over for a few days with his family."

Producer Rahul Mittra, who will be attending the event along with Dutt, says, "After the tremendous response we got for the trailer in India and other countries, I am excited to see the Singapore audience's reaction to it."

Set to hit screens on July 27, the third instalment of Tigmanshu ˆDhulia's action thriller will see Dutt slip into the role of the anti-hero, previously played by Randeep Hooda and Irrfan Khan. It also stars Chitrangda Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahi Gill and Soha Ali Khan.

Sanjay Dutt on how he was a perfect fit for Tigmanshu Dhulia's Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 3, 2018)

Sanjay Dutt's comeback vehicle, Omung Kumar's Bhoomi (2017), proved to be a damp squib. The actor is naturally hoping to hit the bull's eye with his next outing, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3.

Dutt, however, says he is not too worried about the film's fate at the box office as he has complete faith in director Tigmanshu Dhulia. "I am fond of Tishu's work. When he and producer [Rahul Mittra] approached me with the film, I did not think twice. I have gone with Tishu's vision for the character and have done exactly what he told me," says Dutt.

While the first two installments had Randeep Hooda and Irrfan Khan respectively slip into the anti-hero roles, Dutt feels he is the obvious choice when it comes to portraying a character with grey shades. "I think being a gangster comes naturally to me. I have been to jail too," he quips, adding, "They were looking for a polished, khandaani gangster, and I fit the bill perfectly."

Dhulia says that though this was their first collaboration, Dutt fully trusted his judgment. "Not once did Sanjay check the monitor during the shoot, like most actors do to see how they look. He would tell me if I was fine with the shot, he was too."

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 30, 2018)

On Thursday, the cast and crew of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 celebrated the film’s wrap with a grand party, with Randeep Hooda, who played the gangster in the first film of the franchise, joining in with a celebratory cake.

“Chitrangda Singh was delighted as she has been calling this her big comeback and is excited to be a part of the franchise,” producer Rahul Mittra tells Mirror, adding that the 41-year-old actress was writer-director Tigmanshu Dhulia’s first choice for the role. “She plays a woman in love, everything she does in the film is for love and you will see her in a special song sequence as well for which she has rehearsed extensively. It has a very Pakeezah-like feel to it,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Chitrangda claims that the third instalment ups the ante with its narrative. “The game was never this vicious,” she winks, adding, “With Sanjay (Dutt) in the film, the audience is set to witness the wrath of a kingpin. Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 has three times the intensity and rivalry of the previous films,” she asserts.

The third instalment features Dutt as the gangster and Kabir Bedi and Nafisa Ali as his parents. Deepak Tijori also features in a prominent role, with franchise regulars Jimmy Shergill and Mahie Gill reprising their roles as Saheb and Biwi respectively. “The film will double up as a perfect birthday girl for Sanju, who turns 59 on July 29, exactly two days after the film’s release,” Rahul informs.