Sanjay Dutt – Madhuri Dixit In Kalank: Here’s How the Lovebirds of the 90s Agreed to Be Part of Karan Johar’s Film

What made ex-flames Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit reunite for Kalank?

After the world finally came to terms with Sridevi’s sudden demise in late February this year, the question that came to mind was what happens to Shiddat (Kalank now)? The film was Karan Johar’s pet project starring an ensemble star cast. Sanjay Dutt, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan were some of the members already confirmed for the film, along with Sridevi. The makers needed someone who was as talented as Sridevi to step into her shoes. Will the Abhishek Varman film be shelved? Will it get another actress? Who will replace Sridevi? While all this was running through everyone’s minds – Sri’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor revealed through an Instagram post that Madhuri Dixit will now be playing the role that her mother Sridevi was supposed to play. She had shared, “Abhishek Varman’s next film was very close to mom’s heart …Dad, Khushi and I are thankful to Madhuriji for now being a part of this beautiful film.”

It suddenly hit everyone how that was even possible? The film starred Dutt after all. And the Madhuri and Sanjay go a long way back. They had been dating at one point and a marriage was also about to happen until they broke up – not in a very cordial way. Will the ex-flames unite for Shiddat? Before speculations could go haywire, Karan Johar took to social media declaring, “Some clarifications!!! Yes…we are honoured and humbled to have @MadhuriDixit on board for @abhivarman ‘s next! NO the film is NOT titled SHIDHAT! Yes the film will Commence shoot in mid April! The films final cast and credits will be announced soon!”

So Madhuri and Sanjay Dutt weren’t pairing up opposite each other after all, or were they? At an event when Dut was quizzed about the same, he had angrily walked away. Madhuri and Sanjay Dutt were NOT supposed to come together for a film! Never! And then the unthinkable happened. The film Shiddat was renamed as Kalank and the star cast was announced earlier this week. The film, a period drama set in the 1940s, is bringing together Dutt and Madhuri after 21 years since Mahaanta (1997). How did this happen? We now have information how how Sanjay Dutt came on board a film with Madhuri.

Proud & excited to announce the EPIC DRAMA with a beating heart, directed by @abhivarman – #KALANK! Also marking the coming together of a GRAND cast with @madhuridixitnene, @aslisona, @aliaabhatt, @varundvn, #AdityaRoyKapur & @duttsanjay! Releases on 19th April, 2019. @karanjohar @apoorva1972 @foxstarhindi @nadiadwalagrandson

A post shared by Dharma Productions (@dharmamovies) on Apr 17, 2018 at 7:38pm PDT

The former love-birds of the 90s are reuniting, all thanks to Johar, who with his convincing powers, managed to get a nod from Dutt for the project. According to senior film journalist and critic Rajeev Masand, Karan met Sanjay after Madhuri came on board, informed him about the new cast member in Kalank and “convinced him to let bygones be bygones.” We also hear that Madhuri had no qualms and had given her word to the makers that she has no issues about who is cast opposite her and showed no reluctance in signing the film even after knowing that Sanjay Dutt will be her co-star. She had clearly moved on and now, Sanjay has decided to let the past remain in the past as well.

Their personal equation apart, we are sure the coming together of two ace performers like Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit in the same frame would be a delight for the audience. We cannot wait for Kalank to hit screens on April 19, 2019.