Sanjay Dutt is currently in Pune, doing some stylised heavy-duty, hand-to-hand combat scenes for Sohail Maklai’s Knockout. The high-end action sequence is being supervised by Hollywood action choreographers. Sanjay says, “I had learnt kung fu before I started shooting for Rocky (his first film) and I just needed to do some polishing up. Currently, we are doing hand-to-hand combat and other stylised sequences. I am back to doing tough action sequences after a really long time and it feels great!.Producer Sohail adds, “Sanju refused to use a body double for doing the stunts. They are a mixture of martial arts, and high-end, hand-to-hand combat scenes that requires the artiste to be very fit physically and have great stamina. Dutt was excited about doing the stunts himself. We have been working together after six years and I wanted to make sure that he does something really sensational this time.”Sohail has action choreographers Joey Ansah and Silvio Simac flown in from UK and USA. “Joey was Matt Damon’s nemesis Desh in The Bourne Ultimatum and performed all his own stunts. He was heavily involved in the choreography and brutal execution of the now famous brawl in the Tangiers Apartment. Silvio Simac is a martial arts expert who holds black belts in different disciplines.”
For this flick to be directed by Mani Shankar, they are also reconstructing a scene somewhat similar to the famous fight scene in The Bourne Ultimatum. Sohail continues, “When Joey and Silvio came down to Pune, they wanted Sanju to rehearse his action scenes for two days before starting the actual shoot.” Dutt, who has lost 24 kilos on his keratosis diet, is off it and is now on a steady dose of steamed chicken, fish and salad.
