Sanjay Dutt or Sanju baba as he is fondly known in the industry continues to find his work challenging despite his long innings in tinsel town.
His latest film, 'Knock Out', directed by Mani Shankar starring Irrfan Khan and Kangana Ranuat is a case in point. An action thriller, his role in the film was one of the toughest to play, believes Sanjay Dutt.
“It was a tough role. I spent 25 days shooting, talking to nobody, as in I had to imagine what Irrfan’s lines and movements were and all that and then enact. The film’s pace is also great,” says the charismatic actor adding, “I have done many action films but the genre can be different in so many ways. There is stylised action, and then there is action in the way you deliver the dialogues. The thing is, there there must be some meaning to action. It must not be bizarre.”
The actor, who débuted with 'Rocky' (1981), has delivered many a power packed and stellar performances in his almost three-decade-long career. “I have done several challenging roles in many films like 'Vaastav', 'Khalnayak', 'Naam' and even 'Lamha',” says the actor adding, “The one in 'Lamha' was both challenging and scary while shooting in Kashmir.”
Sanjay Dutt who scaled new heights with the Munnabhai series believes that the industry has grown by leaps and bounds since the time he started his acting career.
“There have been huge changes. The quality of films has changed. The technical aspects of film making, the kind of cameras we use today are quite advanced and even post -production has undergone changes,” says the actor.
Indian cinema has come a long way and deserves to reach new heights.
“There is a need for us to go global. There are lot of Indians living across the world who follows Hindi films. We have one of the best technicians in this country,” says he adding, that Bollywood films are having a world release and that the industry is all set to grow even further.
“I want to do an international film with Baba (Sanjay Dutt). He is no less than a Al Pacino or any major Hollywood actor. We have to just make films that are not parochial and are instead universal in appeal,” says Mani Shankar, the director of the film. However the tastes of the Indian audiences need not be compromised upon. “A good script will work both in India and outside of it,” adds Shankar.
Intriguingly, some would argue that Sanjay Dutt’s life, per se, has all the elements of a film noir. However, the superstar whose personal life often makes headlines in the tabloids insists that he is not media savvy. “I have never opened up to the media about my private life. In fact, I run away from the media,” says the actor adding that contrary to popular perception, Bollywood superstars enjoy no clout in the country.
“Actors have hearts. They do not enjoy any clout. If I had any, I would have been in jail now,” adds Sanjay laughing.
The actor who has faced many trials and tribulations in his life is grateful to his fans for their support throughout his career. “The love of my fans, people of this country, family, parents , my wife and God keep me going,” he says before signing off.
