Wanted to avoid underworld topic in Sanjay Dutt biopic: Hirani

Director Rajkumar Hirani, who is currently working on a biopic on actor and close friend Sanjay Dutt, says he was hesitant to "touch upon" the underworld space in the actor's life for the film.

"I was a little skeptical initially. I didn't want to touch upon the topic of the underworld as that's not my favourite word. However, when Abhijat (Joshi) and I heard the story, we met Sanjay Dutt almost every evening for the next 25 days and later found that this is a story we wanted to say because it's a human story. This will be the most entertaining film we ever did," Hirani said here on the sidelines of the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

The "PK" maker stressed that he would never make a film to elevate somebody as a person.

"I will make a film which is honest. I take five years to make a movie. Spending so much time on a movie because I want a great story," he said, adding that the film is not only about the actor, but other people associated with him.

Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor will be playing the role of Sanjay Dutt in the biopic. Hirani will begin working on the biopic next year.

The son of late actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt - Sanjay, who rose to fame in showbiz with films like "Rocky", "Vaastav: The Reality", "Agneepath" and "Khalnayak", is in jail for illegal possession of arms during the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts and riots.