Dutt's 15-year wait!

By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, March 14 -- He played the underworld don to perfection in films like films like Aatish (1994), Vaastav (1999), Jung (2000) and Plan (2004). But not many know that Sanjay Dutt has spent the last 15 years "discussing and researching" real-life gangster Sarman Munja Jadeja's life.

So understandably, he "is excited" about playing the Gujarati don in Soham Shah and Ashtavinayak's upcoming film. "We have been working on the subject for over a decade. Over the years, Neeraj (writerdirector Vora), Paresh (actor Rawal) and I have discussed the subject and worked on it. Somehow, things never worked out. But now that the film is finally happening, it feels great," says Dutt, whose character in the film will also be called Sarman Munja. The Munjha family had a strong hold over Porbandar and other places in Saurashtra in the early '80s. Sarman Munja was also known as the Robin Hood of Gujarat.

"Yes, people say that. So, I am sure it will be interesting to explore this part of his life. The makers have come up with a great story and I am really looking forward to the film," says Sanjay. Directed by Soham, the film is also likely to star Vivek Oberoi and Chitrangada Singh. Interestingly, Bollywood has already made Godmother (1999) based on the life of Sarman's wife Santokben Jadeja. Although no official announcement has been made yet, the project, to be shot in a start-to-finish schedule, might go on the floors by May or June.

Ask Sanjay if he feels confident about the film, and he says, "I sincerely hope people appreciate what I do in it. We are working very hard on the project." Apparently, Sanjay's Satte Pe Satta (1982) remake with Soham and Ashtavinayak has been put on the backburner due to this gangster film. The remake of Amitabh BachchanHema Malini blockbuster will start once Sanjay wraps up the current project. Controversy under control! A few days ago, actor-writer Manoj Joshi had accused former associates of "backstabbing" him by joining Sanjay Dutt's Sarman Munja project.

View the original article here