Sanju, the biographical film directed by Rajkummar Hirani about Sanjay Dutt, has recently prompted the filmmaker to clarify the motivations behind the project. In response to allegations that he has "whitewashed" the actor's image, Hirani addressed these claims. Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to five years in prison for his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai terrorist bombings. Hirani emphasized that he was not particularly close to Dutt and was not in a position of unemployment that would necessitate the creation of a biography. He stated in a recent interview that his intention was not to appear "greedy" within the narrative.

How Sanju came to be

Hirani shared with Komal Nahta on his YouTube channel, Game Changers, that his inspiration for the film Sanju stemmed from the stories he heard from Dutt. This conversation served as a comprehensive exploration of the film's creation. He recounted how Dutt was on parole at the time and he invited him to meet. Hirani stated, "What are you up to? Please come meet me." At that moment, the actor was mostly withdrawn, with very few visitors. Although they had collaborated on two projects, Hirani did not have a close relationship with Dutt. He does not remember ever spending an evening or engaging in significant conversations with him before this encounter; their interactions had been strictly professional. However, Hirani felt that Dutt began to open up during their meeting, sharing personal stories and speaking about his father, Sunil Dutt.

This situation persisted for several additional days until Dutt contacted the filmmaker again. Hirani recognized that each of his narratives was truly remarkable and that there might be potential for a film. They were in the process of creating Munna Bhai. The filmmaker disclosed that there were currently no intentions to develop a project centred on Sanju. However, they unexpectedly obtained Sanju as a pre-existing material. The dynamic between a father and son captured his attention, ultimately leading to the development of a film after he met with Dutt's family.

Addressing whitewashing accusations

The filmmaker responded to allegations that the film sought to "whitewash" the actor's reputation. He recounted an incident from that session, noting his initial reaction was, "What is wrong with him?" He asserted that the actor had a firearm, leading him to conclude that the evidence indicated the actor was indeed carrying the gun. Furthermore, it was illustrated how the actor called upon a friend to dispose of it in the ocean to eliminate any evidence. The filmmakers also highlighted the actor's struggles with substance abuse and revealed his involvement in an affair with his best friend's girlfriend. Additionally, they portrayed him as somewhat spoiled. In light of these revelations, the filmmaker questioned what aspects of his flaws had been overlooked, emphasizing that public perceptions were largely shaped by online narratives: "No one knows him personally."

Hirani clarified that he had no desire to create a film solely about the actor. The primary motivation was the compelling story that needed to be told. He defended his position by stating that he was not a desperate director seeking to sanitize someone's image due to unemployment, nor was he particularly close to the actor on a personal level. The story itself was sufficient to fulfil his creative aspirations. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the events, Hirani engaged with both Dutt's family and the actor himself.

Investigating the gun possession claim

He inquired of the police officer, "Simply admit that you possessed a firearm; it is common knowledge." He engaged in conversation with them, probing whether there was any correlation between the two matters. Did he ever come to this realization? If so, he would refrain from making the film. The officer responded that no such connection existed, asserting that keeping the firearm was unwise on his part.

There was a widespread assumption that his residence contained RDX, which he noted was also derived from a news article. Hirani received feedback from numerous individuals within the industry who opposed the film, questioning, "What is your motivation?" However, none of these claims were accurate, and records indicated that the actor did not possess a truck of that nature. The filmmaker meticulously examined every ruling made by the highest court in the country, yet the matter remained unaddressed.

Dutt refuted any allegations made against him. Hirani developed the narrative because he found it compelling. Nevertheless, after completing his film, the filmmaker received numerous requests to document their stories in an attempt to clear their names.

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