You were sure about casting Sanjay Dutt even when you were planning to make the film with Yash Raj Films.
Kidnap was supposed to be my second film after Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. We worked on the script for eight months -- from September 2002 to April 2003. Once the script was ready, we approached Sanjay Dutt. But he was unable to give us dates then. So we shifted the film shoot to December 2004 when Sanjay was free.
In the meantime, we decided to make Dhoom. Dhoom became bigger than what we had dreamed of. So there was a need to make Dhoom 2. So again, Kidnap was put on hold.
When I signed with [producers] Ashtavinayak, I suggested Kidnap to them. When they met Sanjay Dutt and told him that they had signed me as director, he remembered the script and gave us dates on a priority basis.
Why chose him?
Because he is of the right age. If Sanjay Dutt refused, I would have to wait for another actor to grow old!
Also Read: Kidnap, the story in pictures
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