Sanjay Dutt Says Bollywood Has Lost Passion, Finds It in South Indian Films

Entertainment News: Actors Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, and Dhruva Sarja attended a ceremony in Mumbai to unveil the teaser for their next Kannada film, KD—The Devil, on Thursday. Speaking to the press, Sanjay was open about why he was choosing more films from the South than from Bollywood, claiming that the film business presently lacks 'passion.' When asked what he 'takes back' from working in Tollywood and other South film industries now, Sanjay stated he takes back the 'passion' that Bollywood currently lacks.

Dutt's answer

“I take back the passion (from Tollywood), which Bollywood has lost. And I hope it comes back. That’s what I miss back home, the passion to make a good film,” he said, adding, “You know, it’s not about numbers. Everything is about numbers back in Bollywood. But it’s not about numbers, it’s about passion," he said.

On his co-actors

Sanjay also spoke at this event about his collaboration with Prabhas in Maruthi's The Raja Saab, reflecting on how much the actor provided him. “You know what, I am trying to learn Telugu because I’m doing one film with Prabhas. I am doing a film called The Raja Sahab. He makes me eat a lot, Prabhas. He is one of the most amazing, wonderful people and a great actor,” said the actor.

On relationship with Chiranjeevi

The actor added that he loves Chiranjeevi. “And I love Chiranjeevi, sir. He’s done Munna Bhai out here. I share a beautiful relationship with him. God bless him.” Sanjay also described Nagarjuna, with whom he worked in Chandralekha (1998), as a 'very close friend, like a brother,' and Ram Pothineni, with whom he worked in Double iSmart (2024), as a 'wonderful boy' in an interview with the press.

Why did it take him so long to work in Tollywood?

The actor went on to say that it took him a long time to break into the South Indian film industry since no one asked for him. “It took me so much time to work here because aap logon ne bulaya nahi. Aap bulav, mai aajau. (It took me so much time to work here because you guys didn’t call me. You call me, I’ll come),” he added.