Sanjay Dutt in Shoot Out At Lokhandwala

Sanjay Dutt

Films inspired from real life are common in Bollywood. Now, Sanjay Gupta, Sanjay Dutt and Apoorva Lakhia are making a film on a shootout that took place in a Lokhhandwala flat in 1992, when the then additional commissioner of police, Aftaab Ahmed Khan, gunned down Dawood Ibrahim's aides including ringleader Maya Dolas and Dilip Bua, in an encounter lasting 14 hours.

After the encounter, Khan faced praise as well as criticism. It was alleged that the killings were executed at the behest of Dawood Ibrahim to take revenge on his aides, who had fallen out with him.

Lakhia's favourites

Says an insider, "Just like Gupta cannot make anything without Dutt, Lakhia's film cannot be without the Bachchans. So, either Amitabh or Abhishek will definitely join in. It is even possible that both father and son may get in. Shoot Out At Lokhandwala will raise a hornet's nest, as it will cover the aftermath of the encounter too."

(From top to bottom) Arjun Rampal, Viveik Oberoi and Emraan Hashmi

Gupta's film, to be produced under the banner of White Feather Films, has been titled Shoot Out At Lokhandwala (working title) and will go on the floors on August 1.

Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Viveik Oberoi, Emraan Hashmi and Javed Jaffrey have already been finalised for the cast. Lakhia and Gupta need two more male actors. Two heroines are also yet to be finalised.

Full faith

"I have been hired by Gupta and Dutt. We think alike, and they are giving me full freedom on many aspects of filmmaking. I am very charged about the project," said Lakhia. The mutual admiration continued with Gupta, who said, "Lakhia is a very hard-working man, very honest and sincere."

Suresh Nair has written the script, with inputs from Lakhia and Gupta.

Gupta himself was supposed to direct the film last year, but shelved the idea.

Music will be by rock bands like Euphoria, Indian Ocean and Strings.

Shibani Kashyap has also been pressed into duty, while Biddu has made an international English track for the film. Shoot Out At Lokhandwala will be shot in Mumbai and its outskirts.