Sanjay Dutt sorely missed by his Zanjeer team

By Subhash K. Jha -

August 22, 2013 - 9:59 AM IST

As the marketing and promotion of Apoorva Lakhia's Zanjeer began on Tuesday, a pall of gloom fell over the team.

Everyone connected with Zanjeer missed Sanjay Dutt sorely. And there is a move afoot cancel all plans of a multi-city premiere that was being planned for the film.

Apoorva Lakhia who is a very close friend of Dutt, got emotional while remembering the Dutt. "He's a real friend, yaar. We all miss him. Now more than ever because we've started the promotion of Zanjeer. Suddenly all the fun times we had with Sanju Sir while shooting the film came rushing back. To imagine him all alone in there is very painful to us."

On Tuesday, Ramcharan and Priyanka Chopra shot for the dance-reality show Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa. The topic of conversation at the shoot with host Karan Johar was none other than Dutt.

Says a source, "Ramcharan, Priyanka and Apu had some good times with Sanju Sir during the shoot. They miss him immensely. In fact Priyanka was heard saying she had done a guest appearance with Sanju Sir in Ra.One. And Zanjeer became like another guest appearance. She can't wait to do a full film with him."

Apparently, the months that have passed since Sanjay Dutt's incarceration have not lessened the pain of his close friends and family. Says a close friend of the Dutts, "It is very hard on Maanyata Bhabhi, as she has to maintain normalcy while she is reminded of Sanju Sir's absence every minute. Then some in the media question the sincerity of her grief because she was seen at Shah Rukh Khan's Eid party. Arrey, what is she supposed to do? Sit at home and weep for three years? What affect would that have on the twins?"

Apparently the twins have been told that Daddy has gone "shooting".

But for how long?