Rs 100 cr films riding on Sanjay Dutt

As actor Sanjay Dutt left for Arthur Road Jail, directors of three films starring him were left stranded. The AbbasMustan starrer Mr Fraud, Sanjay Gupta's Alibaug and Sanjay Gadhvi's Kidnap are on the floors and his conviction puts over Rs 100 crores cumulatively on hold. It is said that Kidnap and Mr Fraud are being shot at a budget of Rs 35 to 40 crores each and these films are nowhere near completion.

Dutt, well aware of the impending judgment looming over him, gradually cut down on his assignments. The actor, who has been making multiple trips to the court, had even stopped signing on more films. He was also planning to revive his banner Ajanta Arts with a film titled Beehad. While the scripting work of the film was in progress, the actor decided to put the project on hold, hoping to resume work on it after the court delivered the verdict in his favour.

The shooting of Mr Fraud has been on hold for some time now as the producers were caught in a fix, trying to get combined dates from all the actors and the directors.

Then the director duo got busy with other projects, like Race, due to which the shooting of Mr Fraud suffered.

When contacted, Abbas-Mustan said that Mr Fraud now stands incomplete indefinitely. "We have completed 70 per cent of the film and the remaining 30 per cent had to be shot. Now after the court's decision, we leave it to God. We hope everything turns out well and leave it in God's hands," said Abbas. Mr Fraud is a masala entertainer and is based on a robbery. It also stars Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu.

Dutt has also completed 60 per cent shooting of Kidnap and was shooting for his home production Alibaug, while awaiting the court's verdict. "Only 15 per cent of Alibaug's shooting has been completed," a unit member informed. Dutt last shot for the film on Friday.

However, while Dutt spends time in jail, his fans can look forward to two of his releases this year. Indra Kumar's Dhamaal is all set to hit the theatres on September 7.

Dhamaal, Dutt's only comedy film after Lage Raho Munnabhai, also stars Munnabhai co-star Arshad Warsi in the lead.

Incomplete Movies MR FRAUD ¦ Co-starring Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu ¦ Worth Rs 35 crores to 40 crores ¦ Status: 70 per cent complete KIDNAP ¦ Worth Rs 35 crores to 40 crores ¦ Status: 60 per cent complete ALIBAUG ¦ Co-starring Sudanshu Panay, Rohit Roy, Dia Mirza and Sophie Chowdhury ¦ Worth: not known ¦ Status: 15 per cent complete