Anup Soni revisits 'Hathyar' (2002): co-stars Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty
Synopsis
Anup Soni's 'FlashbackFriday' post on 'Hathyar' is a reminder of how the 2002 crime drama pushed its cast well outside their comfort zones. His candid reflection on playing an unpredictable, language-driven character alongside Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty under Mahesh Manjrekar offers a rare, unfiltered look at what early-2000s Bollywood crime cinema demanded of its actors.
Key Takeaways
Anup Soni shared a throwback clip from the 2002 crime drama 'Hathyar' on 6 June .
He described the role as 'very different from the image people associated me with at the time.' The film was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and starred Sanjay Dutt , Shilpa Shetty , Sachin Khedekar , Gulshan Grover , and Sharad Kapoor . 'Hathyar' explored organised crime, power struggles, and family conflict.
Soni cited the character's 'language, attitude and unpredictability' as what made the experience both challenging and exciting.
Actor Anup Soni on Friday, 6 June shared a nostalgic clip from the 2002 crime drama 'Hathyar', reflecting on what he called one of the most challenging and rewarding roles of his career. The post, shared on his social media account, showed the actor in a rugged, intense avatar — a sharp contrast to the image audiences had come to associate with him at the time.
What Anup Soni Said
Sharing the throwback video, Soni wrote: 'Even today, nothing excites me more than stepping into a character that is unlike anything I have done before. Hathyar gave me the chance to play a character that was very different from the image people associated me with at the time. #FlashbackFriday to a scene from Hathyar.'
He elaborated further, noting that 'the language, the attitude and the unpredictability of the character were all far removed from who I was, which made the experience both challenging and exciting.'
A Stellar Ensemble Cast
Soni also paid tribute to the film's ensemble, writing: 'Sharing screen space with Sanjay Dutt, Sachin Khedekar, Gulshan Grover, Shilpa Shetty and Sharad Kapoor, under Mahesh Manjrekar's direction, made the journey even more memorable.'
The cast, helmed by director Mahesh Manjrekar, brought together some of Bollywood's most recognisable names in a gritty narrative centred on crime, power, and family conflict — a genre Manjrekar had previously explored to critical recognition.
About 'Hathyar' (2002)
'Hathyar', released in 2002, was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and featured Sanjay Dutt in the lead role. The film delved into the dark underbelly of organised crime, exploring power struggles and fractured family loyalties. It remains notable for pushing several of its cast members — including Soni — into unfamiliar dramatic territory.
The Larger Reflection
Soni's post is more than a simple flashback; it speaks to a philosophy of craft that has defined his career across television and film. 'Looking back, what I value most is the opportunity to explore different worlds and different shades of people through the characters I play,' he wrote. This comes amid a renewed audience interest in revisiting early-2000s Bollywood crime dramas, a genre that has seen a resurgence in cultural conversation. As streaming platforms continue to surface older titles to new viewers, films like 'Hathyar' are finding fresh relevance.
Point of View
Yet the film — and Soni's performance in it — rarely features in mainstream retrospectives dominated by bigger marquee names. His articulate unpacking of character craft stands out against the usual celebrity nostalgia post; it is less 'look at me then' and more a working actor's honest accounting of what range actually costs. That distinction is worth noting in an era when performance discourse on social media tends toward self-promotion rather than self-examination.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Hathyar' and when was it released?
'Hathyar' is a Bollywood crime drama released in 2002, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The film starred Sanjay Dutt in the lead role alongside Shilpa Shetty, Sachin Khedekar, Gulshan Grover, Sharad Kapoor, and Anup Soni, and explored themes of organised crime, power struggles, and family conflict.
Why did Anup Soni share a clip from 'Hathyar' now?
Anup Soni posted the throwback clip on Friday, 6 June as part of a 'FlashbackFriday' reflection on social media. He used the occasion to speak about the value of playing characters unlike his established screen image, describing the role as both challenging and exciting.
What did Anup Soni say about his experience on 'Hathyar'?
Soni wrote that 'the language, the attitude and the unpredictability of the character were all far removed from who I was.' He also credited sharing screen space with Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, and the rest of the ensemble under Mahesh Manjrekar's direction as making the experience especially memorable.
Who directed 'Hathyar' and who were the main cast members?
'Hathyar' was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The principal cast included Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Sachin Khedekar, Gulshan Grover, Sharad Kapoor, and Anup Soni.
What kind of character did Anup Soni play in 'Hathyar'?
Soni played a rugged, intense character described as having a distinct language, attitude, and unpredictability — markedly different from the roles he was best known for at the time. He has described it as one of the most creatively stretching experiences of his career.
