25 April,2026 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Khalnayak Returns
Actor Sanjay Dutt announced his new film, Khalnayak Returns, on Friday, sending fans into a frenzy. The upcoming sequel, which will be a fresh interpretation of the 1993 cult classic, will be produced by Dutt's Three Dimension Motion Pictures and producer Aksha Kamboj's Aspect Entertainment, who have jointly secured the rights from filmmaker Subhash Ghai and his company Mukta Arts. During the launch event, Sanjay Dutt revealed how the idea of the sequel was born.
The makers released a brief teaser of Khalnayak Returns at a special event on Friday, with Dutt reprising his iconic role of Ballu in a rugged new avatar. While announcing the new project, the 66-year-old actor thanked Ghai for allowing him to make the iconic Khalnayak again.
"The journey of Khalnayak has been long and without Subhash ji it wouldn't have been possible. He is a legend and a man of entertainment. He will be part of this Khalnayak," Dutt said, before revealing that while he was serving his jail term in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blast case, he began developing the idea to take the story of Khalnayak forward.
"In jail, I asked everyone around me, 'Who will be interested to watch it?' And the 4,000 inmates said they all would. I asked all of them to write one page about it (new Khalnayak story), and it took me a while to read all the 4,000 pages. When I came out on parole, I asked Subhash sir to go through it. After that, he said it should be made," Dutt recalled.
Ghai said he was elated that the actor is making Khalnayak Returns. "It was his inner wish and passion of Sanju and Maanyata to make this (Khalnayak Returns). I'm sure it's going to be better (than the original). I'm always there to be of any help," the filmmaker said.
The original film, directed and produced by Ghai, is remembered as one of the biggest hits of the 1990s and has attained cult status over the years. It featured Dutt as the anti-hero Ballu, Jackie Shroff as police officer Ram and Madhuri as undercover police officer Ganga.
The newly acquired rights pave the way for a fresh interpretation of the cult classic. While the format, whether a remake, sequel, prequel, or a new script altogether, remains under wraps, the collaboration promises to bring the essence of the original to contemporary audiences while retaining its nostalgic appeal, the makers said.
Dutt and Kamboj have roped in Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios to creatively helm it.
(With inputs from ANI)
