Dutt verdict to cost Bollywood Rs 25 cr

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction would lead to a loss of Rs 20-25 crore for producers whose films are under production. The films include Kidnap, Mr Fraud and Alibaug.

"The three filmmakers had a budget of Rs 50 crore to 60 crore for the films, which they would have invested going forward," said trade analyst Komal Nahata. Director Sanjay Gadhvi's (of Dhoom 2 fame) Kidnap has been nearly 20 per cent complete, Abbas-Mustan's Mr Fraud is only 10 per cent done and Alibaug is almost 30-40 per cent complete. However director Sanjay Gupta, who is making Alibaug, has little to lose since the film is Sanjay Dutt's home production. Its only Sanjay Gadhvi and Abbas-Mustan who may lose big money.Other producers had only announced new movies with Dutt but were waiting for the verdict before they started the work.

The filmmakers will either shelve their films or replace Dutt. "It is too early for production houses to take a call. One has to wait and watch," said film analyst Taran Adarsh.

Added a source from the film fratenity, "The movies cannot be made without him which implies that they are stuck."

According to industry estimates, the budget of Kidnap is in the range of Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore, while Mr Fraud's budget is between Rs 20 crore and Rs 25 crore and Alibaug's budget is around Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore. Mehbooba and Dhamaal are two films that are slated for release later this year.

Sanjay Dutt and actor Arshad Warsi's duo created a cult when Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Munnabhai MBBS hit the silver screen in 2003. Its sequel in 2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai raked around Rs 69.97 crore,according to boxofficeindia.com. The production house had also announced its plans to release its third in the series Munnabhai Chale America.