The 2007 action thriller Shootout at Lokhandwala featured a star-studded cast, including Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Vivek Oberoi. In a surprising revelation by director Apoorva Lakhia, it has come to light that despite sharing multiple scenes in the film, Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt never actually met on set during filming.
In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Friday Talkies, Lakhia shared details about the shooting process. He explained, “In Shootout at Lokhandwala, Amitabh Bachchan is in the entire film, but he never met Sanjay Dutt on set. Amit ji comes at 2 pm, Sanjay Dutt comes at 6 pm. Amit ji leaves the set at 5:30 pm, and Sanjay Dutt comes to set after finishing his lunch at 5:30 pm. They never shot even a single scene together, but when you watch the film, you will see them together in the entire film.”
Lakhia elaborated on how they managed to create the illusion of collaboration. “We used their body doubles while Suniel Shetty and Arbaaz were right there with them. All the scenes that you see of them in the film, we shot in just two days. We shot about 30-40 scenes a day,” he continued. Lakhia noted that while Amitabh was well-prepared with his lines, Sanjay Dutt had to rely on others. “Sanjay would come, see the script, and assign the lines to Arbaaz and Suniel because he couldn’t memorize it,” he stated.
The director’s insights about this peculiar situation have intrigued fans of both stars, raising questions about how such an unusual filming process could happen. As Lakhia’s comments suggest, the complexities of star schedules might lead to unexpected outcomes in the filmmaking process.
This revelation not only highlights the intricacies involved in the production of Shootout at Lokhandwala but also sheds light on how filmmakers adapt when faced with unique challenges in working with multiple high-profile actors. Such insights enhance our understanding of the behind-the-scenes efforts that create engaging cinema. The significance of this story emphasizes the unpredictable nature of film production, leaving audiences to wonder what other intriguing tales lie hidden in the making of their favorite films.
