Top Bollywood star's drug habit got him removed from movie; even father pleaded for another chance

Time of India

30-07-2025

Director's Tough call and Personal Cost
'It Was For His Own Good'
Sanjay Dutt's early battle with drug addiction not only disrupted his personal life but also had a direct impact on his professional journey. One major turning point came during the making of Yudh (1985), when filmmaker Rajiv Rai made the difficult decision to remove him from the film. Rai opened up about this challenging period and how it strained his friendship with the actor.Rajiv Rai, known for directing hit films like Tridev and Mohra, revealed in recent interview with Siddharth Kannan that he and Sanjay Dutt were once extremely close. The two had already completed 14 reels of shooting for Yudh, and Rai described those days as some of the best of his life. However, Sanjay's worsening drug dependency raised concerns about the film's future. Rai ultimately decided to recast the role, bringing in Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff to replace Dutt.Rai explained that his decision stemmed from genuine concern for Dutt's health and well-being. Sanjay was eventually sent to rehab in Florida. 'Sanju was not well, he needed help,' Rai said in the interview, adding that he even reached out to Sanjay's father, the legendary Sunil Dutt, to discuss the matter. Despite deep personal ties between their families — Rai's father, producer Gulshan Rai, had even issued Sunil Dutt his first cheque — the decision to let Sanjay go was final.Sunil Dutt, however, was deeply upset. He repeatedly urged Rajiv and Gulshan Rai to reconsider. According to Rajiv, 'Dutt saab kept asking me to give Sanju another chance,' but the filmmakers were firm. Delaying the film wasn't an option, and Rai believed the move might serve as the wake-up call Sanjay needed.Looking back, Rai said the situation caused emotional turmoil for everyone involved. He admitted that he has no bitterness and still considers Sanjay a friend. 'Things didn't work out professionally between me and Sanju, and it was for his own good,' he reflected. Whether Sanjay felt betrayed or grateful, Rai said they never spoke about it after the incident, though he suspects both father and son were disappointed in him.The director also shared how close the families were — recalling being in New York when Sanjay's mother, Nargis, was undergoing treatment for cancer. Despite their falling out, he attempted to approach Dutt again years later for Tridev, hoping to cast him in a role eventually played by Naseeruddin Shah. But by then, the damage seemed to have left a lingering discomfort between them.Sanjay Dutt eventually returned from rehab and resumed his film career, though further struggles awaited him — including legal trouble linked to the 1993 Bombay blasts and a cancer diagnosis years later. His life story, including this tumultuous phase, was partly depicted in the 2018 biopic Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor.