How Sanjay Dutt’s arrest and ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ controversy shaped Khalnayak’s release | Exclusive

New Delhi: In an exclusive conversation with News9 Digital, veteran film journalist Dilip Thakur has shed light on one of Bollywood’s most memorable box-office rivalries—the 1993 clash between Subhash Ghai’s Khalnayak and Saawan Kumar’s Khalnayika.

According to Thakur, Khalnayak was originally conceived by Subhash Ghai as a serious, unconventional film with Nana Patekar in the lead. However, Ghai eventually dropped that version, feeling their creative styles would not align. He then reworked the project with writers Sachin Bhowmick and Ram Kelkar into a mainstream commercial entertainer and cast Sanjay Dutt in the title role.

As Khalnayak generated massive buzz, director Saawan Kumar launched Khalnayika, starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada, and Anu Aggarwal in the lead roles. Sharing a nearly identical title, Khalnayika was viewed as a move to ride the media buzz generated by Ghai’s project, sparking an unexpected clash between the two films.

Thakur also recalled that landing Khalnayak was a major career milestone for Sanjay Dutt. However, the film’s release became overshadowed by the aftermath of the 1993 Mumbai riots and bomb blasts, followed by Dutt’s arrest in April 1993. The controversy led to political opposition and demands to stop the film’s release.

Another major flashpoint was the song ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai’, which sparked nationwide debates over alleged obscenity. In response, Saawan Kumar included a song titled ‘Choli Mein Hai Tabahi Tabahi’ in Khalnayika, further intensifying the rivalry.

To counter the criticism, Subhash Ghai limited television promotions to only the opening lines of ‘Choli Ke Peeche’, keeping the full visuals a surprise for audiences. A special screening was later held for Balasaheb Thackeray at Rajkamal Studio, after which he reportedly stated that the song was not vulgar. Industry veterans also defended the song, noting that it was rooted in traditional North Indian folk music.

Despite the controversies and political pressure, Khalnayak became one of the biggest blockbusters of 1993, while Khalnayika achieved only average success, making their simultaneous release one of the most talked-about rivalries in Hindi cinema.