Veteran actor Sanjay Dutt recently voiced his disappointment with director Lokesh Kanagaraj, claiming his role in Thalapathy Vijay’s blockbuster film “Leo” was “wasted.”
Sanjay Dutt’s Frank Admission
Speaking at an event in Chennai for his upcoming film “KD-The Devil,” Sanjay Dutt expressed his delight at working with Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay. However, he quickly added a humorous yet pointed complaint directed at director Lokesh Kanagaraj.
“I am angry with Lokesh because he didn’t give me a big role,” Dutt stated, laughing as he concluded, “He wasted me.” This candid remark quickly made waves online, sparking a debate among fans and critics alike.
Fan Reactions: Agreement and Offense
A video clip of Dutt’s statement rapidly circulated on social media, drawing diverse reactions. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) agreed with the actor, suggesting that “Leo” might not have needed two villains or that Dutt’s character, Harold Das, could have been more substantial.
Comments like, “Very True. IMO, Leo didn’t need two villains, harold das character would have been easily skipped in writing. Sanjay dutt had terrific presence supported by superb voice casting,” reflected a sentiment that Dutt’s potential was underutilized.
Conversely, some online users were critical of Dutt’s complaint, arguing that actors should be aware of their role’s scope before signing a film. One comment read, “Did you sign for the movie without hearing story and what’s the role. Get paid handsomely goes back and complains after year. Why to commit if the role was less.”
Lokesh Kanagaraj on Working with Dutt
Before Dutt’s recent comments, director Lokesh Kanagaraj had previously shared his positive experience working with the Bollywood star. Kanagaraj revealed that despite Dutt’s vast filmography, he approached “Leo” with remarkable dedication.
“He has done around 270 films, but this is the first one in Tamil,” Kanagaraj noted, emphasizing Dutt’s commitment. He recalled how Dutt would diligently prepare his Tamil dialogues, sitting with assistants and even recording his lines until the early hours of the morning to ensure perfect delivery.
This previous praise from the director highlights the mutual respect and effort that went into the collaboration, making Dutt’s recent remarks all the more noteworthy.
“Leo”: A Box Office Juggernaut
Despite the mixed critical reviews upon its release, “Leo” proved to be a massive commercial success. Made on an estimated budget of Rs 250 crore, the film raked in an impressive Rs 605 crore worldwide, cementing its place as one of the year’s biggest hits.
Notably, Sanjay Dutt’s character in the film was dubbed by actor Pudipeddi Ravi Shankar, a common practice in multi-lingual productions.
- Sanjay Dutt expressed dissatisfaction with his role in “Leo,” claiming director Lokesh Kanagaraj “wasted” his talent.
- His comments sparked mixed reactions online, with some agreeing he was underutilized and others criticizing his timing.
- Director Lokesh Kanagaraj had previously praised Dutt’s dedication and hard work on the film.
- “Leo” was a massive box office success, earning over Rs 600 crore globally despite varied critical reception.
This ongoing discussion sheds light on the complexities of creative roles in major film productions and the differing perspectives of actors and directors.
