Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 2 hrs ago
Rajiv Rai says replacing Sanjay Dutt in Yudh damaged their friendship
Director Rajiv Rai says replacing Sanjay Dutt in Yudh broke their close friendship.
Rai made the decision because Dutt was dealing with personal difficulties and could not complete the film.
Jackie Shroff took over Dutt’s role in the 1985 film, Rai’s directorial debut.
Rai said the production had to be reshot, with only 20–30% left to film, and Anil Kapoor was also recast.
Rai and Dutt are now friends only on the surface, although Rai said he sometimes regrets his decision.
Their families had been close: Rai’s father financed Dutt’s debut film, Rocky, and was friends with Dutt’s father, Sunil Dutt.
Rajiv Rai said replacing Sanjay Dutt in the 1985 film Yudh damaged their once-close friendship.
Rai said Dutt was dealing with personal difficulties and could not complete the film.
Jackie Shroff took over Dutt’s role, and Rai said the film had to be reshot.
Rai said he was unhappy with the decision and sometimes thinks he should not have made it.
- Who
- Filmmaker Rajiv Rai and actor Sanjay Dutt.
- What
- Rai said replacing Dutt in Yudh damaged their friendship.
- When
- Yudh was released in 1985; the timing of Rai’s comments is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Rai said Dutt was dealing with personal difficulties and could not complete the film.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rai replaced Dutt in Yudh, and Jackie Shroff took over Dutt’s role.
Rai said the film had to be reshot, with only 20–30% remaining to be shot.
Yudh was released.
- Film
- Yudh
- Release year
- 1985
- Replaced actor
- Sanjay Dutt
- Replacement
- Jackie Shroff
- Remaining footage to shoot
- 20–30%
What people are saying
Sanjay Dutt was going through a personal issue for those days and hence I could not complete Yudh with him.
We are friends on the surface now, but there is no close friendship anymore.
I was not happy making that decision as well. Sometimes, when I think about it I feel I shouldn't have done it.