Rajkumar Hirani admits changing ‘Sanju’ script to create empathy for Sanjay Dutt

Even though the film was surefire box office hit when it released this summer, Rajkumar Hirani has admitted that he tweaked the script of the film to create empathy for Sanjay Dutt’s character in ‘Sanju’.

Hirani said the initial edit featured the actor’s story and thus was not liked by many. He was cited in a publication saying, “During the shoot I felt ‘What am I doing, I’m going wrong.’ In fact, when the first edit was ready and we screened for people, they hated him. They said we don’t like this man, we don’t want to watch him.”

He added, “Because I wanted to do a true story, I didn’t create any empathy towards him. I said lets not create empathy and show (him) as he is. But later I understood that he is our hero, we need some empathy for him.”

He also revealed that he created an additional scene to add to the story-telling to keep the film’s interest alive. “The scene where he tries to kill himself after the verdict is out; which he had mentioned to me but we didn’t put in the film, I shot it later. It was not in the original script. I thought through this some empathy will come…” said Hirani

He further added, “The initial test reactions were like ‘naah we don’t like this guy…’ Every film is a journey. Some things work and some don’t. I still see flaws in the film but you try your best and hope your best is good enough.”

He also commented on reports that he had white-washed Dutt in the film, “We made a commentary about certain section of the media and the term ‘whitewashed’ came into play. Everywhere I go people say I have whitewashed him but I haven’t. A journalist asked me, why did you whitewash Sanju and I asked what was Sanju’s crime?

“I am not defending the man but myself and the film. He kept a gun, destroyed it too, lied to his father and was arrested. I showed it all, his drug phase and the way he treated people. So where have I whitewashed?” Hirani asked.