Sanjay Dutt to star in remake of Sunil Dutt’s Amrapali

After his release in February from Yerawada Central Jail in Pune, Sanjay Dutt has been easing his way back to work. His last on-screen role was in Rajkumar Hirani’s PK (2014). He is presumed to have signed on for projects helmed by Siddharth Anand and Rohit Jugraj Chauhan. The first is an action thriller while the latter is a period film.

Now comes word that Sanjay Dutt will be joining another period film, a remake of Lekh Tandon’s Amrapali starring Vyjayanthimala and his father Sunil Dutt who played King Ajaatshatru, a ruler obsessed with war until the love of a woman, Amrapali, changes his world view. Sanjay Dutt is set to take on an important role in the remake.

Southern actress Jinal Pandya will be his co-star; she has already filmed portions for the film. Previous reports had mentioned Murder (2004) actress Mallika Sherawat in the title role made famous by Vyjayanthimala. The production is currently on the hunt for a new director as Atul Garg, who shot for a part of the film, is no longer with the project.

Producer Baldev Singh Bedi confirmed that Sanjay Dutt will join the project in December. The 1966 film was India’s selection in the Best Foreign Language category at the 39th Academy Awards.