5 lesser known facts about 'Sanju'

Team behind the much-awaited film revealed interesting facts prior to the release

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt’s life has been like a rollercoaster ride. It has had its fair share of extraordinary highs coupled with rock-bottom lows. And so, it was no surprise when acclaimed film-maker Rajkumar Hirani announced a film on the Munna Bhai actor’s life. However, what made most people unsure was when Ranbir Kapoor was roped in to play Sanjay.

Ranbir Kapoor's performance in 'Sanju' trailer will blow you away

All doubts were cleared when the Sanju trailer released and all of Ranbir’s looks exceeded our expectations. In an interview with Hindustan Times this week, the team behind the much-awaited film revealed some interesting facts ahead of the film’s release on June 29.

1. Not a biopic

PHOTO: FIRST POST

While Sanju has been sold as a biography, Hirani has repeatedly tried to point out that the film is actually a father-son story. “People know the stories. Sanju’s life has been written about so much. What I found the most fascinating was the father-son story happening in that household. This is something people don’t know. We’ve not glorified him. We’ve gone out and said everything as it is, and then it’s up to you to judge him,” Hirani said. Paresh Rawal plays the role of Sanjay’s father Sunil Dutt in the film.

2. Romance is not a key concern

PHOTO: NDTV

The film will not feature any of the rumoured affairs of Sanjay as Hirani didn’t want the film to be “about gossip.” He added, “We keep saying wrong choices make good stories and Sanju is the classic example.”

3. There’s a film within a film

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The Munna Bhai series is an integral part of Sanju because the film was a turning point in his career. Recalling shooting Munna Bhai scenes with Ranbir, Hirani said, “It was strange working with a different set of actors on the same location. I was feeling like a narcissist, saying, ‘Look what I made. But ultimately Munna Bhai is integral to this film, because this is a father-son story and that is the only film they have done together.” He continued, “I was there when we had cast Dutt saab and I know the reasons he did that film. He hadn’t acted for 16 years, and it was important to show this in the film.”

4. What Sanju focuses on

PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS

“Sanju will highlight Sanjay’s drugs phase and the gun episode of his life. Other stories are there in the backdrop and we have dealt with them carefully, in order to not hurt anyone,” stated the PK director.

5. The Sanjay-Dutt relationship

PHOTO: ABP LIVE

Speaking about the father-son relationship in the film, Paresh said, “In the film, that was the relationship we have shown, where Dutt saab loved his son to death but never had a friendly equation with him. Sanjay was always closer to his mother and though he loved and respected his father, he never opened up to him until a certain point. There was a complexity in the relationship but there was a bonding too. I won’t unveil more.”

Teaser of 'Sanju' shows the many faces of Sanjay Dutt

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