Filmmaker Rajiv Rai recently opened up about his broken friendship with Sanjay Dutt after he replaced the actor in his directorial debut, Yudh (1985). Because the actor was going through personal difficulties at the time, speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Rajiv explained that he had to replace Sanjay.
However, after he could not complete the film, the entire film had to be reshot, with only 20–30% remaining to be shot. Released in 1985, Yudh marked Rajiv Rai’s directorial debut. Rajiv Rai went on to direct films such as Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994) and Gupt (1997).
Rajiv shared that his family shared a close bond with the Dutts. His father, Gulshan Rai, had financed Sanjay’s debut film, Rocky, which was directed by the actor’s father, Sunil Dutt. Rajiv also shared that his father and Sunil Dutt had a close friendship. I may have visited his home once or twice after the incident. Before that we had a really deep friendship, which broke. I was not happy making that decision as well. Sometimes, when I think about it I feel I shouldn’t have done it. Rajiv shared that Sanjay was supposed to play Jackie Shroff’s role in the film. Produced by his father, Gulshan Rai, the action thriller starred Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor in a double role, Tina Munim, Nutan, Danny Denzongpa and Hema Malini, among others. The film follows a police officer and a lawyer whose lives become intertwined in a story involving kidnapping, crime and family secrets.
He said, “ Sanjay Dutt was going through a personal issue for those days and hence I could not complete Yudh with him. Rajiv said that replacing Sanjay in Yudh damaged his friendship with the actor While Rajiv’s father and Sunil Dutt continued to be friends. He said, “We are friends on the surface now, but there is no close friendship anymore. Even Anil Kapoor was recast in the film, the director said.
