Unfinished and shelved film projects with Sanjay Dutt

Many film plans with Sanjay were never made - in most cases due to date problems. I collected some of these projects but of course, this list can never claim to be a complete one.


Alibaug: A Sanjay Gupta film, based on an episode from Gupta's life. This film revolves around a young professor, who was once the life of his college. He is now dying, but has something to take care off before he breathes his last. He wishes to bring together his favourite bunch of students, who’ve drifted apart, and let the mad race of life take over their existence. Will the dying man help them make regain their lives?... Sanjay Dutt was to make a Special Appearance, but in March 2008 he asked Gupta to replace him. He had shot for ten days in June 2007, but after his separation from White Feather Films and Gupta and with his many other pending commitments, Sanjay obviously didn't find place for Alibaug anymore in his schedule. His role went to Irrfan Khan. But even then, the film was never completed.

Anokhi Ada: Producer Satish Khanna, Director Bharat Rangachary, with Raveena Tandon and Niki; announced in the early 1990’s.

Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo: According to Filmfare 12/2003, Nitin Manmohan, Sohail Maklai and Mani Shankar were planning this film with nine male leads which were to be played among others by Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Suniel Shetty.

Azaab: Director Farooque Siddique, with Farah and Amrish Puri; mahurat in the end of 1987.

Biwi I Love You / Meri Biwi Ko Salaam: In 2000, Sanjay mentioned in several interviews film projects with two different titles starring him and Karisma Kapoor, so it is possible that both meant the same Satish Kaushik project which obviously never became more than a plan.

Borivali: Sujoy Ghosh planned this film in 2005 with Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt. Due to various reasons, the project never took off and finally had to give way to Ghosh's Aladin plans.

Chakra: This was Sanjay’s second attempt as producer, together with his brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav who also was to direct the film (Mumbai Talking Pictures). Sushmita Sen was announced to play the female lead, and the role of the villain should go to Sanjay’s cousin, TV actor Nimai Bali for whom Chakra should become the debut on the silver screen. But in 1999, Sanjay stated that "the film did get started but we felt something was missing. Nothing was falling into place... so we shelved the project" (Filmfare 8/1999).

Choodiyaan: Producer Sunderdas Sonkia, Director J.P. Dutta, with Madhuri Dixit and Raveena Tandon; announced in the early 1990’s.

Chor Lutere: Rajeev Kumar's film, planned in 1992 with Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt and Sumeet Saigal, was never made.

Devatma: Producer Dr. Y. Singhal & Dr. D.P. Garg, Director Sameer Malkan, with Shilpa Shirodkar; announced in the early 1990’s.

Dost - My Best Friend: In 2004, Sanjay’s ex-secretary-turned-producer Pankej Kharbanda launched this film with a script by Veena Bakshi who also was to direct. It was the story of a six-year-old girl who gets separated from her parents in India and lands up in Romania (supposedly abducted) where she meets Sanjay who helps her returning to her parents. The first scenes shot in Romania obviously didn’t satisfy Kharbanda. I have no idea about this project’s further proceedings.

Dus: Information about Mukul S Anand's "unfulfilled dream" please find here.

Ek - The One: In an interview from 2003, Sanjay mentioned this Ram Gopal Varma project for Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and him. The story was based on three men, an ISI (Pakistani Secret Services) agent, a RAW (Indian Secret Services) officer and a CIA (American Secret Services) man, who despite their cultural and ideological differences, work together to save Mumbai from a nuclear threat. Sanjay was to play the RAW officer. Ek was hyped to become India's grandest and most expensive film ever, it was to be shot in India and the USA (with a Hollywood Crew). Perhaps the project was too expensive or too ambitious - whatever...

Ek Ajeeb/Anokhi Prem Kahani: Producer Jhannu Sugandh and director Mahesh Manjrekar wanted to make this bi-lingual film telling the unconventional love story about a blind girl and a disfigured man (Kareena Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt). Both Sanjay and Kareena mentioned the project in several interviews in 2000 and in 2001. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled later. Mahesh: "I had a script called Ek Anokhi Prem Kahani about a blind girl and a disfigured man with Kareena Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. I can't make such films in Hindi." But obviously he still hasn't given up this project completely.

Gangs Of London: Part of a 3-film deal between producer Bunty Walia and Sanjay Dutt. The other two movies are Lamhaa and Just Punjabi. Sanjay will play a ganglord in the film. Talking about the project, Bunty says, “Bhupinder Singh has penned the script, which is about the various gangs Punjabi, Pakistani, Bangladeshi that operate in London. I liked the idea of Indian gangs operating in foreign country with their own ideas and principles. Sanju’s gang doesn’t allow prostitution and drugs in their area.” Originally, ad filmmaker Shamin Desai was to direct Gangs Of London but he was replaced by the producer's brother Juspreet Singh Walia who studied filmmaking in New York. Sanjay Dutt leads a Punjabi gang in the heart of London. It will to be a huge production with six heroes and will be shooted in a start-to-finish 75-day schedule in London. Foreign technicians, Pakistani actors, two heroines and a lot of Indians settled in London will be part of the cast and crew. Vishal-Shekhar will score the music. Says Sanjay Dutt, “It’s an interesting film emotional with an high acting quotient, and is set in one of my favourite cities London... I won’t be wearing a turban. The beard will be stylised like the ones the youth in London sport.” Gangs of London is a story of two brothers and their friends who get into problems with other gangs because they protect people from drugs and prostitution. Sanjay's brother will supposedly be played by Bobby Deol, other members of his gang "Khalsa" are Sunil Shetty, Shaad Randhawa, Dino Morea and Tusshar Kapoor. And Arjun Khanna has already created an all-leather chains-and-boots look for Sanjay.

Happily Divorced: Indra Kumar planned this film for Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision starring Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Govinda and Akshaye Khanna (1/2010). Finally, however, he opted for Dhamaal 2.

Happy New Year: Farah Khan's multistarrer was to provide a role for Sanjay, too. But the project was shelved/stalled in favour for Om Shanti Om (2007).

Indradhanush: Producer Salim signed Sanjay for this film but in the early 1990’s, Sanjay walked out of the project, the reasons being contradictory as the withdrawal obviously didn’t happen amicably. The project was cancelled thereafter.

Jaan Ki Baazi: In 2003 (other sources say, in 2001), Noorani Film Corp launched this Shakeel Noorani film with Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Danny Denzongpa and Ashish Vidyarthi. Allegedly, 50% of the film were shot. (Source)
Noorani won his case against Sanjay who is said to have walked out of the film without explanation.

Jailor Qaidi: Producer Pushpa S. Chaudhary, Director Partho Ghosh, with Manisha Koirala; announced in the early 1990’s.

Jazbaa: A Sanjay Gupta thriller with Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Fardeen Khan, Aftab Shivdasani and Suniel Shetty. Shooting should have started in August 2007 in Chicago/USA but Sanjay Dutt's legal hassles plus his fallout with Gupta were the end of this project.

JP Dutta Project: Sanjay Dutt had agreed to do a film with JP Dutta with whom he earlier has worked for Hathyar (1989), Kshatriya and LOC Kargil. Dutta is planning a film that will complete his war trilogy after Border and LOC Kargil. Dutta has dedicated all his war films to his brother Deepak, who died while serving the Indian Air force. Dutta’s film will feature Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah. The filmmaker is also apparently in talks with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. It will be an expensive project, and Dutta hopes to get the Indian government's permission to shoot in war-sensitive areas. Menawhile, due to date problems, Sanjay opted out of the project.

Jungle: This was to be Sanjay’s debut film as producer, directed by Rahul Rawail and with Lisa Ray in the female lead. But the project didn’t promise to fulfill Sanjay’s expectations so in 1991, he cancelled it.

Just Punjabi: a) Announced in 2003 by producer Bunty Walia, to be directed by Apurva Lakhia, with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Lara Dutta - but never made. Rumours say that Walia in 2007 made up his mind to revive this project, again with Sanjay.
b) Producer Bunty Walia revived 2007 his film project Just Punjabi (a Hindi version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding) which was announced a few years ago and later nearly forgotten. At that time Apoorva Lakhia was to direct the film but after the Ek Ajnabee flop Lakhia turned to Shootout at Lokhandwala. Now first-timer Jaspreet Walia is to direct the film. Back then, it was reported that Sanjay Dutt had been signed for the lead role while Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai were in talks to act in the film. While Sanjay is still said to be a part of the project, Walia has reportedly approached Ash and Abhi for other main roles in the film. But menawhile it looks like the project is cancelled again.

Kalyug: Producer Mukesh Bhatt, Director Mahesh Bhatt, with Pooja Bhatt; announced in the early 1990’s.

Kasoor: Producer Bunty Behl, Director Mahesh Bhatt, with Dimple Kapadia; announced in the early 1990’s.

Khaleefe: A Sanjay Gupta film with Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan, mentioned in Stardust 10/1997.

Mamta: Producer Hiren Bafna, Director Kishore Vyas, with Neelam; announced in the early 1990’s.

Mera Kartavya: Producer Anil Rathi, Director Murali Mohan Rao, with Raveena Tandon; announced in the early 1990’s.

Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse: Rishi Talwar’s film with Sanjay Dutt, Chandrachur Singh and Shamita Shetty was never releeased though it was announced for 2005, there were ads in magazines and short previews on DVDs. I hope to get to know one fine day about what happened to this film and why it was never released.
(BTW, you can see a short trailer - with Sanjay - on the Spark DVD Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya under "Forthcoming".)

Mr Fraud: Directors Abbas-Mustan casted for this film Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Ajay Devgan (produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd). Sanjay was to play a "fraudster" (and is joined in this by Anuj Sawhney), but especially due to the last phase of his TADA process (2006) the project was delayed for years. In February 2009 Shree Ashtavinayak announced that Mr Fraud finally was going to be completed with major portions to be re-shot, but in October Ajay stated: "Mr Fraud is kinda shelved."

Mushkil: With Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit, announced in the early 1990’s.

Nayak: A Ram Gopal Varma film with Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar. About 35% of the scenes had been shot when Sanjay’s arrest in 1993 stopped the production. After his release in 1995, Nayak was expected to become Sanjay’s comeback film. But then Varma shelved the project and started a new one with Sanjay and Urmila. Allegedly Sanjay after his release was unhappy with the story of Nayak as he was to play an underworld don fighting a politician (Naseeruddin Shah) who very much resembled Bal Thackeray whom Sanjay respects immensely.

Padosan Remake: For a long time, a remake of this successful comedy from 1968 failed because of the rights; Sanjay Dutt tried in vain to get them. After Shemaroo finally bought the rights, Neeraj Vora was to direct the film with Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal and Riteish Deshmukh in the roles initially played by Kishore Kumar, Mehmood and Sunil Dutt (originally Govinda was planned instead of Paresh). Saira Banu's role was to be played by Katrina Kaif. But after having been announced in 8/2007, the project was never made.

Partner 2: David Dhawan planned a sequel of Partner-Sequel in which, besides Salman Khan and Govinda, Sanjay should have a wicked-but-funny role. But the project never went off, among other things due to lack of good script ideas.

Power: After Raj Kumar Santoshi's The Outsider with Amitabh Bachchan had been temporarily postponed, Santoshi had instead moved to another crime thriller for the same producer Firoz Nadiadwala. This crime thriller was to feature Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt in stellar roles; also part of the cast were Anuradha Patel, Lekha Washington and Ameesha Patel. The mahurat took place on September 22, 2010; shooting started October 4 and was to take place in Mumbai, Bhopal, Muscat and Dubai. However, after Ajay walked out of the project (and later allegedly in again) it has obviously been shelved as Santoshi didn't succeed to get same dates from all the busy stars again.

Raj Kumar Santoshi Project: Raj Kumar Santoshi, who always wanted to work with Sanjay Dutt, had finally signed him for a film based on Asghar Wajahat's play Jis Lahore Ni Vekhya O Jammiya Nahin... (One who hasn't seen Lahore hasn't been really born as yet). The play is about the Partition and its fallout on relationships. The film was to be shot in Hyderabad. Santoshi narrated the story to Sanjay on the sets of Anil Kapoor's Shortkut, and Sanjay agreed immediately as he loved the story. According to Santoshi, Sanjay was play a Muslim, a "very powerful role"; as his co-stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vidya Balan, Neha Uberoi and even Salman Khan were in talks... Too bad the project never went off.
(In November 2008 the Mid-Day wrote about a Santoshi project for SDP with Neha Uberoi and Akshaye Khanna - is this the same one or another?)

Ranveer: In the Filmfare 12/2003, Sanjay mentioned this AB Corp. production of Rajkumar Santoshi with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan in which he, being a close friend to both of the Bachchans, had agreed to do a supporting role. But the film was never made.

Saamna: Producer Subrat Das, Director K. Bapaiah, with Sridevi; announced in the early 1990’s.

Serpent Files: Sanjay Dutt was to star in People Pictures' racy thriller Serpent Files (originally titled Charles and I). The movie was to be directed by Darna Mana Hai director Prawaal Raman and was allegedly based on the life of notorious criminal, Charles Sobhraj. It was to tell the story of an enigmatic criminal who sends the police forces in half a dozen countries on a wild goose chase. Talking about the choice of Sanjay Dutt for the lead role, writer and director of Charles & I, Prawaal Raman said, "Charles is a complex character - a charming man with a dangerous mind and dangerous intentions. Finding the right actor who has the ability to exude all these qualities at the same time was a tough call. We were looking for an actor who radiates star power coupled with the finest acting prowess to portray Charles. The only actor in my opinion who fit that profile was Sanjay Dutt". Aditya Shastri, CEO People Pictures (who meanwhile, however, backed out), commenting on the choice of the leading man says, "Sanjay Dutt is a terrific human being and a gifted actor who has the versatility to play diverse roles with unbeatable flair." Herman Knippenberg, the Dutch diplomat who investigated Sobhraj's case, has been roped in as consultant for this film. Though Sobhraj from Nepal where he presently serves a jail term filed a case against the project, Raman continued planning and wanted to rope in Lisa Ray and Bipasha Basu. Meanwhile, however, the project is obviously history.

Seven: Early in 2007, Raj N Sippy planned a remake of Satte Pe Satta with Sanjay in Amitabh Bachchan's double role. But due to date problems, the project never took off.

Shantidoot: In 1985, Sanjay was signed for Sawan Kumar Tak's ambitious 3-D project, based on a Hollywood super-hero fantasy. Maybe the project was too ambitious.

Talismaan: Vinod Chopra Films' Talismaan was planned to star Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt (in a pivotal, negative role). Talismaan is a romantic fantasy adventure inspired by epic novel, Chandrakanta, written in 1892 by Babu Devaki Nandan Khatri. It interweaves and mixes elements of magic, fantasy and war. Director Ram Madhvani says, "Vinod gave me a book to read Chandrakanta, written 50 years before Lord Of The Rings and 100 years before Harry Potter. I was amazed at its ideas and fantasy elements. He set me off on a journey. Talismaan is a love story, a fantasy and uses magic. It has a unique Indianness and yet is modern and contemporary. It's time we had a fantasy film we can call our own and one we can be proud off. Talismaan is my attempt to do just that. The film is very heavy on special effects etc and therefore a lot of time is being spent on pre-production. The storyboarding, concept art etc, requires detailing and research. It's not a film you write the script for and then go on the floors to shoot it straightaway."
Chandrakanta is the story of prince Virendra Singh, who is in love with the princess of a rival kingdom, Chandrakanta. Thrown into this love story is a magical maze in an old abandoned fort which guards a huge treasure trove. Virendra Singh and Chandrakanta have to ensure that their love wins against evil villains like King Shivdutt of another kingdom, who wants to capture the treasure. Also after the treasure are 'aiyyars' or super-spies who have the magical powers of transforming themselves into another person, and are experts in all modes of warfare.
Edit: On May 11, 2011 it was announced that the project was shelved.

Tere Pyaar Ki Kasam: In 2003, Mahesh Manjrekar’s mystery film with Sanjay Dutt, Mahima Chaudhary, Hrishitaa Bhatt, Zayed Khan, Om Puri, Shamita Shetty and Suniel Shetty was announced but left incomplete.

Tu Hi Meri Arzoo: With Manisha Koirala, mentioned in Movie 2/1993.

Vande Mataram: In 2003, Sanjay mentioned in several interviews a Mani Shankar film called Vande Mataram he wanted to produce together with Nitin Manmohan, Ajay Devgan and Suniel Shetty. For this purpose, the four of them even formed the Actors Association "Foursome Productions". But in March 2004 Manmohan declared the project to be shelved as, in the producers’ opinion, a movie about the Bangladesh war of 1971 wasn’t appropriate in times of peace talks between India and Pakistan.

Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai: Producer and Director R.K. Nayyar, with Madhuri Dixit, announced in the early 1990’s.

Zameen: In 1987, Suresh Malhotra launched this production, directed by Ramesh Sippy, with Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Vinod Khanna, Rajnikant and Sanjay Dutt. But soon date hassles delayed the project, and Suresh Malhotra concentrated more on his Time Machine project while Zameen was put into the backwater and, after Sanjay’s re-arrest in 1994, obviously was cancelled completely.

Untitled Plans: In 1991, Sunil Dutt thought about doing a movie together with his son Sanjay about drug abuse (what a pity that they never did it). In 1997 Sohail Khan planed a film (possibly Kainath?) in which Sanjay was to play a thoroughly negative role, but the project was shelved in favour of Hello Brother. Two other projects mentioned 1997 in magazines were a Ramesh Taurani film with Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai where Sanjay should take up a role originally designed for Sanjay Kapoor, and a Forrest Gump remake planed by Kundan Shah.