Sanjay Dutt, Aksha Kamboj and Jio Studios to Make Iconic Film Khal Nayak’s Sequel

In a first-ever collaboration, Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt’s Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aksha Kamboj’s Aspect Entertainment have come together to recreate the magic of the iconic film, Khal Nayak, with Khalnayak Returns.  

Kept as a complete surprise for the media invitees, the teaser of the new film was greeted by whistles, cries of appreciation and excitement when the familiar thematic riff was heard with the new visuals.

The date, April 24, was probably chosen as it is the lucky date for Subhash Ghai, producer, writer and director of the original 1993 blockbuster, remembered for its pathbreaking narrative, Sanjay Dutt as anti-hero and its music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

Dutt along with Kamboj recently acquired the rights of the film for their upcoming joint venture and have roped in Jio Studios and Jyoti Deshpande to creatively helm it.

The event was held in Mumbai’s J.W. Marriott Hotel. Dutt’s wife, Maanayata Dutt, and Parvez Farooqui, Executive Director, Mukta Arts, were also present. 

The rights pave the way for a fresh interpretation of the cult classic. While the format, whether a remake or a new script, remains under wraps, the collaboration promises to bring the essence of the original to contemporary audiences while retaining its nostalgic appeal.

Jyoti Deshpande, president – Jio Studios said, “Khal Nayak stood out as an era-defining film then just as the Dhurandhar duology has done today. It truly redefined mainstream storytelling in its time, driven by an unconventional narrative, unforgettable dialogues and characters, and a truly memorable performance by Sanjay Dutt as Ballu. At Jio Studios, we are delighted to present this collaboration with Sanjay and Aksha as we look to reintroduce this iconic character back to the big screen for a new generation, while rekindling the nostalgia that still surrounds it for those who experienced it in the 90s.”

Talking about this collaboration, Dutt said, “Khal Nayak is a film that is close to my heart and even today it’s remembered with fondness. It’s been a long-cherished dream of mine to be able to revive this film and hence we have legally acquired the rights for it. I want to thank Subhash-ji and the team of Mukta Arts for entrusting us with this legacy. With Jyoti on board and Jio Studios presenting the film and partners like my dear sister Aksha, we are looking forward to creating something truly special for both longtime fans and a new generation.”

Aksha Kamboj added, “Aspect Global’s ventures span multiple industries and with our collaboration with Sanjay Dutt’s production house we are stepping into the world of film production. This will be our first venture under the banner, Aspect Entertainment. We are delighted that we will be collaborating with one of the most celebrated actors of the Hindi film industry and having Jio Studios to present this and with Jyoti Deshpande’s track-record of blockbusters, we have a winning combination that makes it even more exciting for us to start this journey.”

Aspect Entertainment aims to create a collaborative ecosystem where technology serves the story. The studio’s entry signals a shift toward a streamlined, tech-forward approach to movie making in India.

Subhash Ghai entered the event a tad late and blessed Dutt and the team. Asked about how exactly he planned to contribute to the sequel, he stated that he would be available for any advice or guidance at any time. 

When I asked how the new film’s music would shape out, as the older film had the first and only music album that did so well that it was sold in the black-market, Ghai quipped, “But I did not get any money from that!”

He added that his ambition was the new film’s music score would better the songs of the original and that he would leave no stone unturned for the same. “Otherwise, you will call me and say that the music is not up to the mark!” he remarked.

Asked how he had then thought of casting Sanjay Dutt is the now-iconic role of Ballu, Ghai expounded: “I first worked with Sanju in Vidhaata. He was just 20 then and was pushed into acting by his father, the late (Sunil) Dutt-saab and family. It was just his second film and he was enjoying life. But when he played Dilip Kumar’s grandson, he realized that work as an actor was serious and very hard. I used to smile to myself and think the poor guy was trapped!”

He added, “But Sanju soon began to take his work seriously and realized what the true potential of an actor was. I made some films in between (Meri Jung, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Saudagar) with others but kept watching his progress in films like Saajan and Sadak. So, when I wrote Khal Nayak, I thought of him even if a few other actors had come to know of it and asked me to cast them! I narrated the story to him and he agreed.”

At this point, Dutt humorously interrupted the filmmaker and said, “Sir, you never narrated the story to me! You just said, ‘You have to do this film!’ and I replied, ‘Sir, I trust you and I will do the film!’”

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