New Delhi: After Shamshera’s director Karan Malhotra, Sanjay Dutt has also opened up about the film’s failure at the box office and has defended the film in a long note. The actor said he stands by the film and director Karan Malhotra.
Expectations were high from Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, and Sanjay Dutt starrer but the film bombed at the box office. The film was made at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore and is expected to earn around Rs 40 crore in its first week.
Sanjay Dutt in his note defended the film and said people who didn’t even watch Shamshera, hated it.
“Films are acts of passion – passion to tell a story, to bring to life characters you’ve never met before. Shamshera is one such labour of love to which we gave our all. It’s a movie made up of blood, sweat and tears. It’s a dream that we brought on screen. Movies are made for audiences to relish. And every movie finds its viewers, sooner or later,” he wrote.
Sanjay Dutt praised the director Karan Malhotra and described him as one of the best dorectors he has ever worked with
“Shamshera found a lot of people hating on it; some of the hate came from people who didn’t even watch it. I find it horrible that people don’t respect the hard work we all put in. I admire Karan as a filmmaker, and mostly as a person. He is one of the best directors I have worked with in my long career of four decades. He has the knack of giving characters that strike a chord. We did that with Agneepath, where he gave me Kancha Cheena to play. The process of working on it was brilliant. He trusted me again with Shamshera and what a ball of a time we had making this film, and bringing to life Shuddh Singh. Karan is like family and success or failure aside, it will always be an honour to work with him. I stand by him always,” he added.
“Shamshera will find its tribe someday but until it does, I stand resolute with the film, the memories we created, the bond we shared, the laughs we had, the hardships we went through. I thank the whole unit – cast and crew of the film who stayed with the film for four years, through the pandemic, through my own personal rough times. Ranbir and I have forged a bond for life with this film. His craft and ability to depict emotionality on screen is par excellence. It pains to see how people are so eager to spew hatred on the work of one of the most hardworking and talented actors of our times. Art and our commitment for it transcends the hate coming our way. The love we feel for the film and its people goes beyond everything that’s being said. Baaki kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna! #ShamsheralsOurs,” he wrote.
Sanjay Dutt played antagonist Daroga Shuddh Singh in the film.