300 Bullets Were Fired-Sanju Gets Candid

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Posted: 18 years ago

'300 Bullets Were Fired'-Sanjay Dutt Gets Candid

Tanya Palta May 23, 2007

After entertaining audiences with Gandhigiri last year, Sanjay Dutt dons a cop's uniform for his new film, Shootout At Lokhandwala.

Based on a real life incident, where gangster Maya Dolas (played by Vivek Oberoi) and his accomplices were killed in a police encounter, the actor plays ACP Khan, who masterminded the shootout. Narendran Singh caught up with Dutt to ask him more about the film. Do you have memories of that event, which transpired in 1991? Are they depicted in the film?

We have faithfully shown the events that transpired in 1991. I remember shooting at Chandivili studios that day. A few policemen were sent to our location to bring some lighting equipments. We asked them what happened and they informed us about a big shootout at Lokhandwala, which took us by surprise. Some 300 bullets were fired on that day.

You play IPS officer AA Khan in the film. Did you have any discussions with him before the film shoot started?

I have tried to stick to Mr Khan's character as much as possible. I spoke to him on many occasions. He also has a small role in the film. To get his mannerisms, did you go through the footage of the encounter? Yes, of course. I have even worn the same kind of clothes which Mr Khan wore that day. You will even see me carrying the same kind of revolver he carried. The style of mustache and goggles he wore that day are similar too. Did you enjoy shooting for the film?

Yes. We had lots of fun. Arbaaz Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Tusshar Kapoor and Suniel Shetty have done excellent work. This film has been completed in a short span of time and we're all waiting for the film to release.

You have given a lot of time to this film.

Yeah, that's true, I gave bulk dates for the film and tried to finish it as early as possible. Don't you think films based on real life incidents generate controversies? Well, you have got to face it and be ready for controversies when you are basing your film on real-life incidents. We can't take sides; we have to show exactly what happened in real life. Is there fiction in the film? Any liberties you have taken? There are different things in the film, like the relationship with my wife and daughter. Also, the songs in the film. What did you do to give the film an authentic look?

I did a whole lot of reading on Mr Khan -- old paper cuttings and what the press had to say at that time. Just sitting and talking to Mr Khan on several occasion helped me a lot.

What is your take on Gandhigiri Gandhigiri will always be there but if I were to remain stuck to Gandhigiri, I will stop acting in films (laughs). You have not sung any song in this film?

How can AA Khan sing songs? (laughs)

Is there any scene which may attract any controversy?

I don't anticipate any controversy. After the release of the film, you will have many questions and several eyebrows will be raised. Basically, nobody knows what happened after the police entered that building. It's only those people who entered that building who know about the whole event. And because no one told us anything, we had to create certain things.