Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has acted in several films since his debut in 1981. All the characters had different shades right from a young, charming boy in Rocky to a criminal in Khalnayak and a lovable goon again in Munnabhai MBBS.

But, Sanju Baba is going to do something totally different this time. He is going to don the role of great historical figure Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The project is being kept under wraps now but it is certain that Sanjay Dutt will be playing the role of the great Maratha warrior. Nobody is speaking about the project on record now as Dutt is busy with other assignments and will take at least a year to come out of legal hassles.

According to a source close to the project, "No one can essay the flamboyant Maratha warrior better than Sanjay Dutt. He looks as brave as the warrior and can gallop on the screen with a sword in hand. We needed someone, who can look like the character of Russell Crowe in Robin Hood or Gladiator."

But, Soham Shah, who is directing the film, denies Sanjay Dutt being their first and the last choice for playing Shivaji. He said, "For now, I will say that I can never imagine making a film without Sanjay Dutt. I am here only by his support and guidance.

I can think of working on a big project like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj only because of his support and trust. Right now, I am preparing to direct a movie for Sanjay Dutt Productions. I will start working on the Shivaji project only after completing this one."

Shivaji is the director's dream project and he has been working on it for more than a year now. Soham added, "I want the film to appeal to people of all age groups. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would have special effects like that of Hollywood's Prince Of Persia."

Initially, the film was supposed to be in Hindi but Soham and the producers are trying to make the movie into a Hindi-Marathi bilingual.