Rs 150 cr riding on Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt starrer Lage Raho Munna Bhai may have grossed a whopping Rs six crore in its first week of release, but the future of his forthcoming films hangs in the balance till the TADA court gives a verdict on the actor's alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

Dutt has decided not to sign any new films till the verdict is announced.

Industry analysts say Rs 150 crore is riding on Dutt currently. This includes films which are due for release; partly complete or those signed by him.

A typical Dutt film has a budget of Rs 10-15 crore. With five films on hold, Rs 50-75 crore is at stake. Trade Guide Editor Taran Adarsh says, "Dutt is an important actor and money is certainly at stake."

Dutt has completed work on Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya and the film's distribution rights have been been picked up by Sony for Rs 15-17 crore. But the actor has around five films on which work is pending.

He has finished dubbing for Raman Kumar's Sarhad Paar; will begin dubbing for Ajay Chandok's Nehle pe Dehla; has completed 50 per cent of the shooting for Astavinayak's Mr Fraud; and has finished 80 per cent work on Indra Kumar's Dhamaal. He is yet to start shooting for Shootout at Lokhandwala.

"The films which are ready for release or are near completion will not lose much money but films partly completed will definitely be affected," says Komal Nahta, editor, Film Information.

According to Navin Shah, CEO, P9 Integrated, an entertainment marketing company, "A lot of producers may change their mind depending on the verdict. Of the films Dutt is involved in right now, almost Rs 75 crore has already been invested, and these could be in trouble. If the verdict takes longer than six months, producers might change their mind."

However, if the producers have insured their films, they might get relief.

"If any of the producers have gone in for insurance, they can recover the cost to some extent," says Shah.

On whether the market is jittery, Adarsh says it's too early to say anything as Bollywood is not talking about the issue. However, Nahta says the market is jittery for sure.