September 18, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): While there are talks about Sanjay Gupta staring his own directorial outing called 'Bigde Nawab' in a few months from now, there have been speculations galore around what happens to his earlier project 'Alibaug'? With Gupta holding the baton for multiple new projects, is his dream project with Sanjay Dutt finally going to stay only as a dream?

For those who came in late, when announced, this much hyped biographical epic had created a stir of sorts since it only consolidated the professional and personal liaison between the two Sanjays - Dutt and Gupta. They were a team after films like 'Zinda', 'Musafir', 'Shoot Out At Lokhandwala', 'Plan' and 'Aatish' and it was obvious that with 'Alibaug', the magic would only continue.

However, this was the time when problems crept between Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta, hence leading to the film coming on a standstill. It was clear though that Sanjay Dutt had moved on and this also meant that 'Alibaug' truly seemed to be in limbo. Sanjay Gupta did make a brave statement in late 2007 that he would never make 'Alibaug' without Sanjay Dutt but that only seemed to be a thought that was anyways heading for a dead end. Dutt was in no mood to comply while Gupta too knew deep inside his heart that 'Alibaug' with Dutt was never going to be a possibility.

As things stand today, there has been no further development on 'Alibaug' for almost two years. Though there was quite some buzz in the industry, trade and media around Irrfan coming in place of Dutt, it appears that not everyone was too pleased which resulted in any more progress around 'Alibaug' being halted.

"See, I can't do it all by myself. They are the guys who are funding the film but then they have not been too forthcoming", says Gupta when questioned if EROS is taking any keen interest in bringing 'Alibaug' closer to the finishing line, "I too have been concentrating on other films of mine. As of now, the ball is in the court of EROS. Once they decide, we can sit across the table and decide course of action, if any. So yes, for all practical purposes, 'Alibaug' is definitely on a standstill."

One can now only hope though that a few months down the line, the project is revived, may be with a new cast, and completed for those who would have wished to have a dekko at sensitive cinema.

-- Joginder Tuteja / Sampurn Wire