Cinema VinesBollywood veteran Sanjay Dutt, who first stepped into the spotlight as the lead in 1981’s Rocky, reflected on the evolution of the Indian film industry during a recent interview with Dr D Nageshwar Reddy on the AIG Hospitals YouTube channel. Speaking about his 45‑year journey, Dutt recalled a time when the industry felt like a close‑knit family, with everyone supporting one another. He said, “When I started, the industry felt like a family. Everyone was together, everyone was helping one another. Now it’s become much more cut‑throat, much more competitive. It’s sad, but I hope it comes back.”
In contrast, the actor praised Hollywood for its cohesion, noting that industry bodies, actors, writers and even award ceremonies such as the Oscars exhibit a strong sense of unity. “In Hollywood, everybody is together, they are friends. It’s competitive, but it’s very healthy. Over there, everyone is very united. The actors are together, the writers are together. There are industry bodies that support everyone. Even at the Oscars, there’s so much togetherness. Whenever an actor goes up to receive an award, there’s no jealousy. You can genuinely see everyone celebrating each other. It’s beautiful,” Dutt added.
Recently, Dutt rekindled a long‑standing friendship with superstar Salman Khan. The pair were seen embracing in a photo posted by Khan on Instagram, a moment that warmed fans and highlighted the enduring camaraderie between the two actors.
On the box‑office front, Dutt’s latest outing, the political drama Aakhri Sawal, released on 15 May under the direction of Ahijeet Mohan Warang, received negative reviews and earned only ₹3 crore, falling short of expectations. The film also featured Namashi Chakraborty, Aamir Sadh and Sameera Reddy in leading roles.
Looking ahead, the actor is set to reprise his iconic role as Ballu in the upcoming sequel Khalnayak Returns, announced in April. Dutt revealed that the idea for the sequel sparked during his incarceration related to the 1993 Mumbai blast case. He recalled asking fellow inmates about their interest in a new Khalnayak story, collecting 4,000 written responses, and later presenting the concept to director Subhash Ghai, who green‑lit the project.
