Sanjay Dutt starrer Lage Raho Munnabhai may have grossed a whopping Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) in its first week of release, but the future of his forthcoming films hangs in the balance till the TADA court in Mumbai delivers its verdict on the actor's alleged involvement in the Mumbai blasts case.
Industry analysts say Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) 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 about Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore (Rs 100 million to Rs 150 million). With five films on hold, Rs 50 crore to Rs 75 crore (Rs 500 million to Rs 750 million) is at stake. Says Trade Guide editor Taran Adarsh, "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 crore to Rs 17 crore (Rs 150 million to Rs 170 million). 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, Nahta claims that it is jittery for sure.
