Rajkumar Hirani is a brave director and no, we are not saying this looking at his past records which is also exemplary but his courage to bring to celluloid Sanjay Dutt’s life story in the form of a biopic titled Sanju. Starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead the movie’s teaser was launched today amid much fanfare and after viewing it we can understand that why this movie is one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

Sanjay has led what is proverbially called a very “troubled life” with amazing highs and abysmal lows. Hirani in an interview today said how the actor’s life is a “goldmine” for any filmmaker. However, the director maintained that they have tried to give a humorous and taken a less serious route for telling the actor’s life story.

During the teaser launch Abhijat Joshi, the co-writer of the film said that Hirani’s films have three Es, they are “entertaining, enlightening and elevating.” While producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra acknowledged that he did not want to make this film but Hirani persisted.

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When Hirani was asked about Sanjay’s response to the film, he said, “Sanjay is overwhelmed ki uski life par film ban rahi hai.” He further said, “With a biopic, you have to be careful, do it in a different way. Thanks to Sanjay who gave us all the anecdotes about his life. It was a tough task to string it together, to add lightness and humour to it.” He further said, “Sanjay Dutt is a brave guy to let people see his life so openly.”

On talking about the treatment that they gave the biopic the director said, “We have not added fiction to the movie, although we have dramatized at times to add emotions. But we have stuck to facts.” Vidhu Vinod Chopra added, “We have toned down and underplayed a few things as well. To avoid controversy, we have kept a few things aside.”

T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar was asked about the songs in the biopic and whether any hit numbers from Sanjay’s films have been incorporated in the movie, to which he replied, “No old songs from any Sanjay Dutt movie has been used in the film.”

DESK: VANDANA SRIVASTAWA