Sanjay Dutt will return to the silver screen to essay the role of a villain in his upcoming movie, Shamshera. The Karan Malhotra directorial, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor in lead roles, will be released theatrically tomorrow.
In a recent interview, the director of the movie, Karan Malhotra, talks about how Sanjay Dutt worked on the sets of Shamshera while he battled cancer. The director added that this brave feat has increased the respect he holds for Dutt.
Speaking to a leading publication, Karan Malhotra commented, “The news that Sanjay sir had been diagnosed with cancer came to all of us like a huge shock. We had no idea about it. He was talking, behaving, and working as if nothing had happened. I guess that’s why he is where he is today, having conquered this too. Sanjay sir doesn’t let anything get the better of him. He is an inspiration on the sets for everyone.
The director also added that it never seemed to them that Dutt was battling cancer as he would keep the mood light while on sets. He added, “Having given so many years of his life to his craft, Sanjay sir leads from the front and his demeanour shows us all how to conduct ourselves on the set. He went about shooting Shamshera with the attitude that there was nothing he couldn’t conquer. He never mentioned what he was going through personally. He kept the mood on the set light.”
Karan also mentioned that Sanjay Dutt has become a mentor to him, he said, “It is exemplary how he silently showed us that we too can face life’s adversities with a smile on our faces. To me, Sanjay sir is a superman and there is no one like him. I’m indebted for his support towards Shamshera. He is a constant guide and a mentor to me.”
Sanjay Dutt was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in August of 2020. However, in a few months, the actor announced that he was free of cancer. Sharing a note, Sanjay Dutt wrote, “The last few weeks were a very difficult time for my family and me. But like they say, God gives the hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. And today, on the occasion of my kids’ birthday, I am happy to come out victorious from this battle and be able to give them the best gift I can–the health and well-being of our family.”
