Sanjay Dutt took initiative to make 'Sadak 2': Pooja Bhatt

Actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has revealed that it was Sanjay Dutt who first pushed for a sequel to their 1991 hit film "Sadak", eventually leading to the development of "Sadak 2".

Pooja was speaking to the media in Mumbai on Friday at a press event for the 3 x 3 Pro Basketball League (3BL), which she attended along with her father and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and league commissioner Rohit Bakshi.

The original "Sadak", a romantic thriller directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starred Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt and became one of the notable films of the early 1990s.

While the makers have announced the release date of "Sadak 2", details about its cast and crew had not yet been officially revealed.

Pooja said Sanjay Dutt was the person who initiated the idea of bringing the franchise back.

"The production house of the film will announce the cast and crew. All I can say is that it is happening and I also want to mention that it was Sanjay Dutt who initiated it," she said.

According to Pooja, Dutt approached her and questioned why the team had not considered making a sequel. She then conveyed his interest to Mahesh Bhatt and producer Mukesh Bhatt.

"He was the one who came to me and said 'why were we not making Sadak 2?'... On his request, I went to tell them about Sanjay Dutt's urge and desire to work in this film," she said.

Pooja also suggested that the long-standing relationship between the actors and the Bhatt family played an important role in bringing the project together.

Asked whether she would return to acting in "Sadak 2", Pooja said she had largely stepped away from acting after her father stopped directing films.

"I was spoiled because I had the best of Mahesh Bhatt and I had no desire to really act when he quit direction," she said.

However, she indicated that the sequel could offer an opportunity to revisit the style of filmmaking associated with the 1990s.

"I think with this film, we are going to go back to the 90s where filmmaking was more organic and the learning was greater," Pooja said.

Mahesh Bhatt said the "Sadak" franchise had developed naturally over the years and that the team had prepared a strong script for the sequel.

"We have very clearly said that 'Sadak' is the franchise which has flowered on its own after a long time. We have a brilliant script which has been put together by me and my co-writer," he said.

He added that audiences would have to wait for the production house's formal announcement regarding the cast and other details.

"Sadak 2" is being presented by Mahesh Bhatt in association with Vishesh Films and produced by Mukesh Bhatt. The film is scheduled to release on November 15, 2019.

The sequel marks the return of a film franchise that began nearly three decades earlier, with Sanjay Dutt's interest reportedly providing the initial push for the project.