Lokesh Kanagaraj responds to Sanjay Dutt's "Wasted Me" remark regarding Thalapathy Vijay's Leo

After the statement went viral, Sanjay Dutt personally contacted Lokesh Kanagaraj, who made this revelation in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is currently making waves with his upcoming film Coolie, has finally responded to Sanjay Dutt's recent comments that he was "wasted" in Leo. Following the Bollywood star's remark, which generated headlines and sparked fan conversations, Lokesh has now shared his perspective.

After the statement went viral, Sanjay Dutt personally contacted Lokesh Kanagaraj, who made this revelation in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

After that incident, I received a call from Sanjay Sir. "I made a very funny comment, but it got awkward after people cut it and put it on social media," he told me. "No problem, sir," I simply said," Lokesh recalled.

"I'm not a genius or a great filmmaker who wouldn't write stories that overshadow other characters," the Leo director continued. I'm still learning, and I've made a lot of mistakes with my films. I would most likely make it up to Sanjay Dutt by working on another movie with him.

The remarks were made by Sanjay Dutt at a press conference for his next movie, KD: The Devil. He said, "I worked with Thalapathy Vijay and I loved working with him," in reference to his role in Leo. But I'm upset with Lokesh because he didn't give me a significant part. I was wasted by him. Despite its humorous tone, the comment immediately went viral online and elicited a range of responses.

Leo, which was released on October 19, 2023, starred Thalapathy Vijay as Parthiban, a seemingly normal coffee shop owner whose past starts to catch up with him after a violent incident puts him in the public eye. Leo examined themes of identity, atonement, and hidden legacies, drawing inspiration from the Hollywood movie A History of Violence.

Many fans and critics thought Sanjay Dutt's portrayal of Antony Das, a dangerous character from the protagonist's past, lacked nuance, which fueled the controversy surrounding whether such a well-known actor was underutilised.

Also read: Anupam Kher reacts to Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3 controversy: "Couldn't see my sister’s sindoor get destroyed for art"

With Rajinikanth in the lead role, Lokesh is currently preparing for his upcoming major project, Coolie. With its gritty harbour setting, the movie looks to be an exciting entertainment experience. On August 14, 2025, Coolie, which stars Nagarjuna, Upendra, and Aamir Khan in a special cameo, will be released in theatres.

Fans have praised Lokesh for his mature and modest response to Sanjay Dutt's comments, despite the small controversy. Many now hope that the two will soon get back together for a more extensive and meatier partnership.