After ruling Bollywood for decades, Sanjay Dutt is now establishing himself as an essential presence in big-budget South Indian films. His entry into South India began with the Kannada movie K.G.F: Chapter 2, where his portrayal of the ruthless antagonist Adheera was lauded by the audience.
Currently, Dutt is preparing for his maiden Tamil film Leo, helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. In addition to this, the actor is also gearing up to make his debut in Telugu cinema and that too in a project by ace director Puri Jagannadh.
Titled Double iSmart, a sequel to Jagannadh’s sci-fi action blockbuster iSmart Shankar, the film will see Ram Pothineni reprise his lead role from the original movie. The film, which went on floors a few days ago in Mumbai, will have Sanjay Dutt in the role of ‘Big Bull’.
Meanwhile, the film’s makers revealed a first-look poster of Dutt on Monday, showing his character, Big Bull, stylishly lighting a cigar, displaying absolute fearlessness in his eyes, all while lasers from firearms are directed towards his entire body. Sporting a funky hairdo and a beard, Sanjay Dutt looks ultra stylish in the poster in a suit with earrings, rings, an expensive watch, and a tattoo on his face and fingers. It’s apparent through the poster that Dutt will be playing a powerful character.
Sharing his excitement about the movie, Sanjay Dutt tweeted, “It takes me immense pride to be working with the director of the masses #PuriJagannadh ji and the young energetic Ustaad @ramsayz 🤗 Glad to be Playing the #BIGBULL in this sci-fi mass entertainer #DoubleISMART Excited to be teaming up with this super-talented team and Looking forward to the film hitting the screens on MARCH 8th, 2024😊 @Charmmeofficial @IamVishuReddy @PuriConnects.”
Produced by Puri Jagannadh and actor Charmme Kaur under the banner of Puri Connects, Double iSmart’s shoot began with the team canning an action sequence for which Ram Pothineni underwent a stylish makeover.
Hollywood cinematographer Gianni Giannelli has been roped in for the high-octane actioner. The makers will reveal the names of the other cast and crew of the movie soon. Double iSmart will hit the theatres on March 8, 2024, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.
While Sanjay Dutt was last seen in Karan Malhotra’s period action drama Shamshera, which bombed at the box office, he is reportedly set to make a cameo appearance in Atlee’s highly anticipated Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan. Puri Jagannadh’s last directorial endeavour, Liger, bankrolled by Puri Connects along with Dharma Productions, was a major commercial failure.