Rajiv Rai recently recalled the fallout with Sanjay Dutt after replacing him in Yudh. Years later, after the rift, Rajiv Rai considered Sanjay for the lead role in Tridev. But he took a step back because of what happened during the filming of Yudh.
Rajiv Rai has recently revisited the fallout with Sanjay Dutt and why their friendship never recovered.
What Happened Between Sanjay Dutt And Rajiv Rai?
In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Rajiv Rai admitted that replacing Sanjay Dutt in Yudh damaged a good relationship, and he regrets losing a close friend. He said, “We are friends on the surface now, but there is no close friendship anymore.
Yudh was Rajiv Rai’s directorial debut. The movie was produced by his father, Gulshan Rai and Sanjay Dutt was initially cast for the main lead. Even though Dutt shot a major chunk of the movie, he was replaced with Jackie Shroff for the role.
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The explanation for the replacement of the actors, according to Rajiv Rai, was that Sanjay was dealing with personal difficulties and needed rehabilitation in Florida.
“I shot 14 reels with Sanjay Dutt,” Rai recalled in an earlier interview with Siddharth Kannan.
Rajiv Rai added that he spoke with Dutt regularly during his rehabilitation. He even asked for his permission to continue the film with another actor. Rai also said that he talked to Sunil Dutt to discuss his concerns about his son’s health.
Rai revealed that Sunil Dutt repeatedly requested that his son be given another chance. However, the production could not afford further delays. Rai and his father eventually decided to recast the film.
“The whole film had to be reshot. Maybe 20-30 per cent was remaining. Even Anil Kapoor was recast,” Rai added.
(Image Credit: Facebook @RajivRaiFanClub)
Did Rajiv Rai Try To Reconcile With Sanjay Dutt?
After the split between Rajiv Rai and the Dutts, the director approached Sanjay Dutt in future for other projects. In his conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Rajiv Rai said he offered Sanjay Dutt the role of Jai Singh in Tridev, but he declined.
He felt that Sunil Dutt was still unhappy with him over what happened during Yudh.
Ultimately, Tridev was released in 1989 with Naseeruddin Shah, Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff. The ensemble cast included Madhuri Dixit, Sonam, Sangeeta Bijlani, Anupam Kher and Amrish Puri.
Rajiv Rai acknowledged that he was also unhappy about replacing Dutt and still questions whether he made the right decision.
“Sometimes, when I think about it, I feel I shouldn't have done it,” he said, according to Hindustan Times.
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At present, Rajiv Rai has spoken about working with Sanjay Dutt again. But no reunion project has been announced for a long time. For the filmmaker, the episode remains a fallout of a close relationship, and for audiences, it remains a tough decision that changed the course of a movie.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Sanjay Dutt replaced in Yudh?
A1. Rajiv Rai said Dutt was facing personal difficulties and needed rehabilitation. The filmmaker decided to recast the film rather than delay production.
Q2. Was Sanjay Dutt supposed to be in Tridev?
A2. Yes. Rajiv Rai considered Dutt for the role eventually played by Naseeruddin Shah, but the two never reunited professionally.
Q3. Why did Sanjay Dutt and Rajiv Rai fall out?
A3. Their friendship suffered after Rai replaced Dutt in Yudh. Rai recently admitted that they remain cordial but are no longer close friends.