The ambitious YRF – Karan Malhotra collaboration, Shamshera, which featured an all–star cast of Sanjay Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vaani Kapoor, failed to achieve box office success, leaving the cast and crew feeling dejected. In response to the criticism the film received, director Karan Malhotra expressed his apology in a heartfelt note. Now, a day later, actor Sanjay Dutt, who portrayed the character of Shuddh Singh, has also expressed his support for the filmmaker in the form of an open letter. Through this letter, he hoped to share some of the warmth he experienced during the filming of the movie, as well as encourage all those involved in the making of the film to continue to strive towards success in the future.
The ambitious YRF – Karan Malhotra collaboration, Shamshera, which featured an all–star cast of Sanjay Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vaani Kapoor, failed to achieve box office success, leaving the cast and crew feeling dejected. In response to the criticism the film received, director Karan Malhotra expressed his apology in a heartfelt note. Now, a day later, actor Sanjay Dutt, who portrayed the character of Shuddh Singh, has also expressed his support for the filmmaker in the form of an open letter. Through this letter, he hoped to share some of the warmth he experienced during the filming of the movie, as well as encourage all those involved in the making of the film to continue to strive towards success in the future.
In his letter, Sanjay Dutt articulated the response that Shamshera received. He proclaimed, “A film is a fervent undertaking, a fiery wish to present a narrative and to introduce people to a completely fresh perspective. Our team has devoted all our effort to Shamshera, with enthusiasm and zealousness, weaving a tale of sheer hard work and sheer passion. Films are made for spectators to appreciate, and each movie eventually discovers its watchers.”
He went on to explain further, expressing dismay at the amount of people that had taken to criticising the film without even watching it. “It’s horrible that people don’t respect the amount of effort put into the movie,“ he said. “Karan is a masterful filmmaker and an incredible human being – one of the best directors I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my four–decade–long career. His eye for character detail is impressive; he trusted me with the iconic role of Kancha Cheena in Agneepath and then again with Shuddh Singh in Shamshera. Working on this movie was an incredible experience and I had so much fun!“
Karan is more than a colleague to me – he is family. Regardless of success or failure, it will forever be an honour to work alongside him, and I will stand by him in any situation. Shamshera may one day find its own audience, and until then I remain loyal to the movie and all the incredible experiences and connections it gave me – the friendships I’ve forged, the laughs we shared, the struggles we overcame. I am grateful to everyone in the cast and crew who stuck with the project through all these years, including the pandemic and my own difficulties. Ranbir and I will always share a special bond, as his talent for conveying emotion onscreen is truly remarkable. Despite the bitterness some people have been throwing our way, our passion for the movie and all it stands for is greater than any hate we might receive. Our love for Shamshera and its people transcends it all.
He concluded the note with a verse from the beloved Khanna song, “Bahut kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna,” followed by, “#ShamsheraIsOurs.”
Shamshera is an epic historical drama featuring Sanjay Dutt as the main villain and Ranbir Kapoor as the leading man in dual roles, and Vaani Kapoor as the female lead in a romance with Ranbir’s character, Balli. This blockbuster opened in theaters in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on July 22nd.
