Sanjay Dutt to star in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai

Sanjay Dutt to star in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:18 IST
By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network
/> Sanjay Dutt, who celebrates his birthday today, is all set to play the gangster one more time. It's meant to be the ultimate comprehensive look-see at Mumbai's underworld. And who better equipped to star in it than Sanjay Dutt who has acted in more films on the underworld than Ram Gopal Varma has directed?

The whole world knows Balajee's Ekta Kapoor and Popcorn Entertainment's Suniel Shetty dote on Sanjay Dutt.

To no one's surprise he had been signed by the two mega-producers for one more joint venture. This time it's another gangster flick entitled Once Upon A Time In Mumbai that will take Dutt and his director Milan Luthria through a whole decade of gangsterism in the 1980s.

Revealing details producer Suniel Shetty says, "Initially we wanted to focus on one aspect of crime and smuggling in the 1980s. Now we're taking into account the whole era and ethos leading up to terrorism and international terrorism in current times."

Sanjay Dutt has played the gangster in 15-20 films including funny ones in David Dhawan's Hum Kissise Kam Nahin and Raju Hirani's Munnabhai.

So why one more?

Explains Suniel, "Because Baba really suits the role. And both Ekta and I want him to be part of the film. Basically we'd like Baba to do as many films for us as possible. He's in our film Gen Next also.

This is the one where the winners of Ekta's reality show Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket will co-star with (Sanju) Baba."

Earlier the plan was to only feature one female and male winner in the film with Dutt. But now Suniel feels the doors should be open to more talent.

"Baba feels there can never be too much fresh talent. And Ekta's show goes on for five years. So there will be a lot more fresh talent coming out of the show and into Balajee and Popcorn films."

Suniel has vowed never to act in films which he produces. "It becomes too messy. There's too much looking over the shoulder. Too much anxiety about what's happening behind the scenes."

For now Mission Istanbul would be the last of Suniel's productions where he plays part. "But it's only a bit role. I've made sure I'm not featured in the publicity. Right now I'm busy as an actor in other people's production."

Suniel is shooting for his first intense love story since Dharmesh Darshan's Dhadkan. "It's a really mature love story directed by Kabir Sadanand called Tum Milo To Sahi and I'm cast opposite Vidya Malvade.

In fact as an actor I've two releases coming up in two weeks. After Mission Istanbul there's Mukbiir on August 1. Both very different films from one another. I don't know why they're being compared."
Ramayana Movie Teaser: Ranbir Kapoor vs Yash Set for Epic Showdown in Cinematic Spectacle!

The cinematic landscape of Indian mythology is set for a revolutionary transformation as acclaimed director

Monday, July 14, 2025
Param Sundari: Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor's Romantic Comedy Set for August Release!

Get ready for one of Bollywood’s most anticipated love stories of the year! Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi

Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunny Deol Wraps Border 2 Shoot: A Patriotic Powerhouse Returns With Major Kuldeep Singh!

Sunny Deol has officially wrapped filming for the highly anticipated Border 2, the spiritual successor to

Monday, July 14, 2025
Allu Arjun Set to Play Four Roles in Atlee's Grand Spectacle AA22 X A6: A Game-Changer in Indian Cinema!

Allu Arjun, the reigning superstar of Telugu cinema, is about to embark on the most ambitious project of his

Monday, July 14, 2025
Rajkummar Rao recalls drawing inspiration from these legends!

One of the most promising actors of this generation, Rajkummar Rao sits down for one of his most revealing

Monday, July 14, 2025