The Inside Story: This is How Karan Johar Convinced Madhuri Dixit & Sanjay Dutt to Work Together

When Sridevi passed away suddenly many upheavals happened, one of the smaller ones being the casting  of  Karan Johar’sAbhishek Varman directed Shiddat, now rechristened with a  much less inspiring title Kalank.

After Sridevi’s departure, Madhuri Dixit–always considered  the  departed Diva’s closest rival– stepped  in. But there was a hitch.Sanjay Dutt who was to co-star with Sridevi confessed he felt “uncomfortable” with the idea of working with  Ms Dixit.

 The  two had parted  bitterly when  Dutt was jailed for allaged terrorism in 1983.

Producer Karan Johar faced a dilemma: either get Madhuri on board or ask Dutt to leave.

 But before push came to shove  Karan Johar sat Sanjay Dutt down for a heart-to-heart since Ms Dixit very clearly said she had  no problems working with “anyone”

Says a source  close to Dharma Productions, “Karan  reminded  Dutt that whatever had happened between  Dixit and Dutt was  in the past, that they are now happily married and with children. Let the  past bury itself.”

Dutt apparently heard  Johar out and finally relented.

Kalank will show the couple  in  a mature relationship.

“Their track is being done with utmost discretion. No one will be allowed to feel uncomfortable,” says  the source.