Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has acquired the rights to his cult-classic film Khal Nayak, describing the move as the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream to revive and reinvent the legacy of the iconic project.

The film, originally directed and produced by Subhash Ghai under the Mukta Arts banner in 1993, had emerged as a massive commercial success and remained etched in cinematic history for its gripping storyline and bold narrative. It was particularly noted for Dutt's portrayal of the anti-hero Ballu, a role that challenged the conventional image of Hindi film protagonists at the time.

Speaking about the development, Dutt said that the film held a special place in his heart and continued to be remembered with great affection by audiences. He expressed gratitude to Ghai and the Mukta Arts team for entrusting him with the rights and said the collaboration aimed to create something meaningful for both longtime fans and a new generation of viewers.

The actor, along with businesswoman Aksha Kamboj, had recently secured the rights as part of a joint venture. The project had brought on board Jio Studios, with Jyoti Deshpande set to lead the creative direction.

Deshpande said that 'Khal Nayak' had been an era-defining film that redefined mainstream storytelling with its unconventional narrative, memorable dialogues and compelling characters. She added that the collaboration aimed to reintroduce the iconic character to contemporary audiences while preserving the nostalgia associated with the original.