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Sanju is an upcoming Indian biographical film directed by Rajkumar Hirani, written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi and jointly produced by Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film stars Actor Ranbir Kapoor as Indian actor Sanjay Dutt, in various stages of his life. The film is set to be released on 29 June 2018.
In an interview with DNA India, director Rajkumar Hirani revealed what prompted him to create a film based on Sanjay Dutt's life: "He was lonely. Maanayata (I think) was in hospital and he used to go there (sometimes) and then come home to an empty house. So, he was just venting, speaking straight from the heart. And, he started giving me anecdotes that were just gems for a filmmaker". In regards to gaining resources in constructing the film, Hirani said, "...we sat for a crazy amount of time and recorded everything ... I also met others who knew him — journalists, cops, relatives and friends. I felt there was a movie that should be told." In the same interview, Hirani revealed that Dutt was okay with the film not glorifying him.[11] Hirani also revealed that he had a pre-condition with Dutt before commencing with the film. He stated that if Dutt requested to change any lines or scenes, he "would not make it" with which Dutt responded by allowing Hirani to make the film in his accord.
Speaking about Dutt's journey, Kapoor revealed in an interview with Filmfare that the biopic will reach out to the audience by teaching them something. He stated that "It will talk about human flaws, the emotional father-son story (between Sanjay and the late Sunil Dutt), his relationship with his best friend, with the women in his life. It's emotional, it's funny, it's sad, it's bittersweet. The youth have a lot to learn from his mistakes." He also confirmed that "it's not a propaganda film" intending to glorify Dutt. Kapoor also revealed that for him the hardest aspect of playing the role was to give himself the confidence to go ahead with the project. For him, Sanjay Dutt is "a flawed but a wonderful person... a pop icon" and that's why it "was scary.”
In an interview with DNA After Hrs, Hirani revealed that the film was named Sanju after a lot of deliberation. Apparently, Nargis, Sanjay's mother, used to call him ‘Sanju’.[15]
Scripting challenges
In an interview with Rajeev Masand, Hirani disclosed that the story-telling procedure was "challenging as it's not a story of an achiever" as most biopics are based on a heroic personality, yet Dutt is known for his tragedies and losses. He noted that "you can't really tamper" and that the main scripting challenge was fitting "a very anecdotal story in a structured format". Writer Abhijat Joshi also revealed that there was no "deliberate" attempt to make Dutt's character sympathetic to the audience. Instead the team realised having listened to all the anecdotes conveyed by Dutt that it's a "very engaging, incredibly fascinating" story based on a "conflicted person, a flawed person" who "deserved empathy". Hirani then confirmed that he has "put out the truth" which includes "good things and bad things".[16]
Character transformations
Kapoor requested and was given a month's break between every phase to complete his transformation into Dutt. Speaking about it at the teaser launch of the film, he stated that it was hard for him to look like the muscular Dutt as Kapoor has a thinner frame. "...there was a lot of team effort behind this. A year before that we did a lot of prep and screen tests..."[14] Actress Manisha Koirala who essays the character of Nargis in the film spoke about her transformation as well stating that "We did a couple of tests, from when she had short hair to when she had long hair. I think we have got the look somewhere closer to how Nargis Ji looked".[17] Koirala also revealed that she "did a lot of research on Nargisji" by studying "various photographs, books [and] documentary". She also admitted that it was "traumatic" reliving being a cancer patient as Koirala is an ovarian cancer survivor. She further mentioned that "it required a lot of inner strength... but was finally worth it as she tried to "capture [Nargis's] essence, the core of her being". [18]
In regards to Kapoor's transformation, father Rishi Kapoor revealed that Ranbir "took 6-7 weeks to get each of his different looks"[19] In an interview, prosthetic artist, Dr Suresh Murkey said that he used prosthetics to make Ranbir Kapoor's face and age resemble Dutt's.[20] Mirza also opened up on Kapoor's role stating that "he would be the first to reach the location because he would need five, six hours to do prosthetic make-up to play the older part." She also spoke about the uncanny resemblance of Kapoor as Dutt as a consequence of prosthetics revealing that "People who went on the sets thought Ranbir was Sanju sir. Ranbir made Sanju sir his own." [21] Hirani also revealed that Kapoor was "meeting Sanju separately...had a full timeline of how Sanju looked in the 80s, 90s, 2000s... and made a whole collection of look videos." [22] Hairstylist Aalim Hakim revealed that it took "22 days to finalise Ranbir's different avatars" as it was a "challenge" to create he receding hairline for Ranbir and give him a broad forehead". [23]
Sets
A replica of Dutt's childhood home which he lived in with his parents took 25 days to complete, as Hirani wanted to portray's Dutt's life right from childhood to present day.[24]
Casting
Actor Ranbir Kapoor was the first choice to play Dutt's character. Hirani stated that "I first thought of Ranbir and went straight to him and I can tell you, we were right.” [25]. He also stated that he thought Kapoor is a fantastic actor and "at the perfect age."[11] He further revealed the similarities and differences between Dutt and Kapoor stating that "They have lived the life of actors all through. Ranbir is not someone from outside the industry who came here to be a hero. In a sense, it was easier for me to see him as Sanju." He also revealed that Ranbir Kapoor worked very hard to get the correct physicality, spending days watching videos "to strike the right balance"[11] Initially Kapoor was reluctant to portray the role. However, he agreed once "he saw the angle of the story".[11]
Aamir Khan was also approached to play the role of Dutt's father, Sunil Dutt. However, the role was turned down as Khan was already playing the role of a father at that time in Dangal. Khan had also stated that he wished to have played Dutt's role instead as his "role is so wonderful that it won my heart... so don’t offer me any other role as I won’t be able to do it" [26] The role was then passed onto actor Paresh Rawal who stated that his character is "human" and "doesn't have a set mannerism, idiosyncrasy".[27]
Initial reports suggested that actress Anushka Sharma was approached to play the character of one of Dutt's girlfriends, and then a rumoured journalist. However, Sharma denied these claims by stating that "my character is the only fictional character in the film" and "is not based on any living person".[28] At the trailer launch, Hirani stated that Sharma plays a biographer from London who comes to India, and in turn plays a "mix" of himself and Abhijat Joshi.[29]
Filming
Shooting for the film began on 12 January 2017 with Ranbir Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Dia Mirza and other cast and crew.[30] Shooting was wrapped on 21 January 2018.[31] At the wrap party, the cast and crew were seen wearing personalised t-shirts with the hashtag "#duttstheway" in order to promote the film.[32]
Marketing and release
A short official teaser of the film was released on 24 April 2018.It became the highest viewed Hindi film teaser of all time, garnering more than 30 million views within the first 48 hours of its release and 150 million global views across several social media platforms.[34] The official trailer was released on 30 May 2018 and accumulated over 20 million views within its first 24 hours of release.[35][36]
The first poster was released on 30 April 2018 in which Kapoor looked as Sanjay Dutt when he first came out of jail in 2016. The next day, another poster was released showcasing another still of Kapoor as Dutt in 2016 leaving Yerwada jail. Subsequently, more posters were released portraying Kapoor as Dutt from the 90s and 2003 when the films Rocky and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S were released respectively.[38] On 7 May, Hirani released another poster.
Hirani then announced that he would now release poster stills of the rest of the cast and crew until the trailer release date.[41] On 25 May, Hirani released a still of "Sanju's crazy romantic love life" on Twitter. The image portrayed Kapoor with actress Sonam Kapoor, who reportedly plays the character of Tina Munim.[42] Kapoor, however refuted these rumours and stated that "I have a small but important part in the movie. It's not what everyone is thinking. I am not playing an actress." [43] Though, Hirani confirmed that Kapoor is indeed playing the role of "a girlfriend".[44]The next day a still of Kapoor was released presenting Paresh Rawal who play's Dutt's father. Following this, a still of actor Vicky Kaushal was released confirming his role as Dutt's best friend, Kumar Gaurav.[45] Hirani released a still of Anushka Sharma the day after but did not reveal her role, as he intended for the trailer to do so instead.[46] A still of Manisha Koirala playing Nargis was also released by Hirani. [47]
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