Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 25: Maanayata Dutt turned emotional during the announcement event of Khalnayak Returns in Mumbai, as her husband Sanjay Dutt unveiled the poster and teaser of the much-awaited sequel.
Videos from the event showed Maanayata holding back tears and hugging producer Aksha Kamboj, while Sanjay stood beside her on stage.
Speaking at the event, Maanayata said she got “goosebumps” watching the announcement video and described the film as a long-cherished dream for Sanjay. She noted that the actor had experienced many ups and downs in life, and it was the love of his fans that kept him going.
She added that actors often wish to revisit the roles that define their careers, and Ballu Balram from Khal Nayak remains one of Sanjay’s most iconic characters. She revealed that discussions about the sequel had been ongoing for over a decade, often surfacing during casual conversations at home.
Calling it a passion project, she said Khalnayak Returns will mark the first production under Aspect Entertainment. The film is being co-produced by Jio Studios and Three Dimension Motion Pictures.
The film is a sequel to the 1993 cult hit Khal Nayak, directed by Subhash Ghai. The teaser features Sanjay reprising his role as Ballu Balram, delivering the iconic line, “Nayak nahi, Khalnayak hoon main.”
In a statement, Sanjay said the original film remains close to his heart and continues to be remembered fondly. He said reviving it had been a long-standing dream and thanked Subhash Ghai and his banner Mukta Arts for entrusting him with its legacy.
The original film, which also starred Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff, was a commercial success and is remembered for its music and performances.
On the work front, Sanjay was last seen in Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar, which released on March 19 and reportedly crossed Rs 1,000 crore at the Indian box office. The film also featured Ranveer Singh.
He will next be seen in Aakhri Sawal, directed by Abhijeet Warang, scheduled for release on May 8.