A Legendary Antihero is Back
Sanjay Dutt recently revealed the sequel to his successful 90s film. The name of the new film is Khalnayak Returns. He will reprise his infamous character Ballu Balram. This particular franchise has been in hibernation for more than 30 years. Last Friday, the event was held in Mumbai with much media attention
A Secret Borne in Prison
The story behind this much anticipated sequel is actually from the actor’s worst days. Ranveer Singh Dutt was in jail for a long time, in the Yerawada central prison. Recently he disclosed that the seed of a second movie was sown behind prison bars. The non-conducive setting became a fertile ground for ideas. The actor would often talk films with the other inmates as part of his routine.
Testing the Waters Behind Bars
Dutt started entertaining his fellow inmates. Dutt was in charge of the music sessions for the other prisoners. He observed that all of them kept asking for the superhit songs of the original 1993 action drama. This huge success inspired Dutt to explore the possibility of a sequel. So he decided to ask the audience if they would purchase tickets for a brand new sequel
Thousands of Writers
The audience of inmates responded with a loud “yes”. Some four thousand prisoners raised their hands to express their enthusiasm about the sequel. Dutt had an interesting assignment to give them on the fly, though. He asked each of them to come up with a one-page idea for the film. This dramatic decision made the prison a writers’ room o
Sifting Through the Pages
Sifting through the handwritten ideas was no easy task. The Bollywood icon literally read through 4,000 submissions. He said that he had to spend a lot of time going through the pile of papers. But he took the time to read through each and every page to get an idea of what the audience wanted. Then, one particular story idea grabbed his attention and he took it with him.
Taking the Idea Outside
Dutt retained the idea until he was released on parole. When he was released on parole, he immediately reached out to the director. Dutt immediately arranged an appointment with the master film-maker Subhash Ghai. The actor presented the prison-inspired story to the franchise’s originator. Ghai listened as Dutt laid down the action-packed sequel to the classic story.
Securing the Director’s Blessing
The experienced director was keen on the story draft. Ghai enthusiastically endorsed the concept and encouraged Dutt to proceed with the project. He told Dutt that the actor’s enthusiasm for the character was contagious. Ghai realised that the only way to bring the antihero back to the screen was with a passion project. And this vital approval signalled the start of the paperwork.
Acquiring the Legal Rights
Turning an idea into reality meant some legal manoeuvring. Subhash Ghai’s production company had the rights on the original movie. Dutt teamed up with producer Aksha Kamboj, of Aspect Entertainment, to manage business affairs. They officially procured the intellectual property rights from Mukta Arts. The move guaranteed there would be no copyright issues to delay the shooting schedule.
A Collaborative Production Effort
Dutt’s latest venture is Three Dimension Motion Pictures. The production crew assembled the big league to take on the enormity of the shoot. A creative director from Jio Studios, Jyoti Deshpande, joined the team. This is a sign of a big-budget remake of the original film. The investments will ensure high-end technology and strong promotion in future.
Reimagining the Look
The Mumbai launch event provided a sneak peek at what’s in store. We saw a brief teaser on the large screen of a bloodied Ballu Balram. In the clip, Dutt sported long hair and a very dirty, bloody look. This look portends an altogether grittier film than the original. The show tune was played quietly in the background.
Changing the Roster
The original film was a box office sensation due to its all-star cast. Dutt played equal footwear with Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff in the past. The producers of the remake have been tight-lipped about the remainder of the cast. There has been no confirmation if there will be cameo appearances by the past co-stars. The strong nostalgia factor makes casting a difficult task.
Blending Past and Present
Thirty-three years is a long time in the ever-evolving world of film. The challenge for the creative team is to please the old fans while capturing the attention of the new. The screenplay is reportedly a mix of the 1990s charm and up-to-date pacing. The challenge is to maintain the essence of the original film while not being too dated. It’s a tricky task to deal with a cherished childhood memory.
Ghai Keeps his Hands Off
Ghai is contributing his support to the project, but he won’t be the director. This was revealed during media talks in Mumbai. The senior is a mentor and original writer for the legal documents only. The producers are on the lookout for a young director to take charge of the shoot. They’re looking for someone with a sense of the pulse and pace of modern-day action scenes.
A Different Era of Filmmaking
The early 90s was an era of filmmaking with a different culture. Ghai recently reminisced about how Dutt would shoot tough scenes until 2 in the morning. There was no technical assistance to fall back on. The new film seeks to replicate this work ethic on a digital set. The comparison between two eras of filmmaking shows how things have changed.
Getting Ready for the Floor
Behind the scenes, work is underway on the pre-production of the film. The authors are working on the script begun on a bit of paper in jail. Artists are creating the bleak environments to show off the ageing gangster. Filming dates are yet to be released, but the equipment is being readied. And everyone knows the enormous weight that’s being placed on this particular project.
