Lage raho Baba!

A year ago, the Bhai of Bollywood used to charge anywhere between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 2 crore per film.
Then, after the back-to-back success of Shootout at Lokhandwala and Dhamaal last year, his star value shot up and Sanju Baba looked set to hike his fees. That wasn���t to be, for he went to jail in connection with the Mumbai arms case and producers were no longer willing to put big bucks on him.Later, he fell out with Sanjay Gupta.
Now, thanks to actor friend Suniel Shetty, Sanjay���s price is on the rise again and he���s signed some projects for Rs 15 crore each. Sanjay���s upcoming films include Aladdin, Chatur Singh Two Stars, a project to be directed by Ashwini Dheer, and the third instalment in the Munna Bhai series. He has bagged a three-film deal as well.
All this despite his latest films, EMI and Kidnap, bombing at the box office. Critics have said the actor is getting too old for action and lead roles, but his directors and fans certainly don���t agree. In a dipstick poll by BT, 70 per cent of his fans said Sanju���s still got what it takes, whereas the rest felt he should go for botox. ���He���s the Big Daddy of the present generation. He introduced the six-pack. He���s got the looks and the right attitude to carry it off,��� says student Rohith Kumar. Adds housewife Leela MB, ���No one can do justice to intense roles like Sanjay Dutt. But he has to fight his age.��� Agrees businessman Anubhav KG, ���I loved Sanjay in Kaante, Vaastav and Musafir. But in Kidnap, his age overshadowed his machismo.���
Dhamaal director Indra Kumar disagrees, saying, ���He was the first action hero of new-age cinema and is the best. He completed EMI and Kidnap when he was in the middle of legal issues. But he never let his performances get affected.��� The director, who���s working with Sanju on Dhamaal 2, says he trusts his professionalism. ���As for his looks, it���s how we present him. He���s the one who can pull off any kind of role. He did action in Shootout... and Dus; romance in Munna Bhai and now, comedy in Dhaamal. He still attracts a houseful audience,��� says Indra.
But what about the two consecutive flops? ���Who doesn���t see a slowdown?��� asks director Sujoy Ghosh of Aladdin. ���He might be controversy���s favourite son, but he���s come out on top always,��� adds Sujoy.
Director Apoorva Lakhia of Shootout... agrees that Sanjay has hardcore fans with him. ���Sanju has worked with his own set of producers and directors, like Mahesh Manjrekar, Nitin Manmohan, Sanjay Gupta and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Now, Mahesh is not directing any film, Nitin has stopped producing, Sanjay Gupta has parted ways with him and Vidhu hasn���t started his film. But Sanju still has a huge fan following. That���s why we still rely on him,��� he says.
Is his fee hike justified? ���When his counterparts are talking crores, why shouldn���t he?��� queries Sujoy, adding, ���With so many flops this year, there���s a dearth of stars who command BO initials.���