Several Sikh organisations last Monday demanded a ban on screening of Bollywood multi-starrer 'Shootout at Lokhandwala', alleging the film tarnished the image of the community by portraying them as "terrorists".

Scenes relating to Sikhs in the film had "not only tarnished the image of the community in the world but was also affecting the minds of the Sikh younger generation," Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle Media Study Centre coordinator Balwinder Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur.

Sanjay Gupta is right now the most shell-shocked producer in Mumbai. His much-awaited real-life cops-and-gangster drama, based on the shoot-out in Mumbai in 1991, has been cleared by the censors without cuts.

Speaking to this writer after getting the censor certificate on Tuesday afternoon Gupta said, "We expected a lot of opposition and requests for cuts considering the violent nature of the content. To my director Apoorva Lakhia and my surprise, the censor-board members loved the film and thought any cut would impede the fast narrative flow. They also told me not to go for a UA but a straight U. I'm in a state of pleasant shock."

With the censor clearing, Shootout At Lokhandwala is all set for a May 25 release.

Shoot Out At Lokhandwala is one film that has arrived like a hurricane. Though the first half of 2007 was touted as a year of 'Guru', 'Salaam-E-Ishq', 'Eklavya', 'Namastey London', 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' and many more biggies, the promotion and packaging of 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' has ensured that it turns out to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest itself, film of the season.

Sanjay Dutt can heave a sigh of relief. After back to back dated releases in the form of NEHLLE PE DEHLLA and SARHAD PAAR, he would finally be having a new film of his arrive at theaters.

Produced by Sanjay Gupta and Dutt himself, SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA, under the banner of White Feather Films, has been confirmed for a May 25 release.

A multi-starrer with a men-heavy starcast, this Apoorva Lakhia film has a massive cast which comprises of Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Vivek Oberoi, Tusshar Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan and Rohit Roy.

Now that the shooting of the encounter film Shootout at Lokhandwala is complete, the first major promotional poster of the film is out. And it features Abhishek Bachchan prominently. However, there is a slight problem: producer Sanjay Gupta doesn't want to use Abhishek as the face of the film (along with others, of course) when he is only doing a cameo.

Says Sanjay Gupta, "I really think Abhishek shouldn't be on the posters. It's a special appearance. And I don't want to exploit the Bachchans's relations with Sanjay Dutt and with my director Apoorva Lakhia. Both father and son have been gracious enough to give us the dates for the shooting. And both have refused to take money."

From director Apoorva Lakhia comes Shootout At Lokhandwala, a shocking, hypnotic look at a real-life disaster.

On a calm summer day in 1991, in the bustling Lokhandwala Complex, five criminals including Maya and Dilip were counting 70 lakhs in flat no. 32 B, when 286 policemen, headed by ACP Khan, took strategic positions around their building. A gunfire ensued and the entire nation witnessed the most talked about daylight encounter lasting 6 hours that transformed suburban Mumbai into a virtual war zone.

After staying away from studios, Sanjay Dutt is ready to don the greasepaint and face the camera. In fact, a number of Sanju starrers are in various stages of production, including those produced by his company, White Feather Films.

There’s SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA too, which is almost 80% complete and requires 10 days of Dutt. In fact, the film will be complete once director Apoorva Lakhia cans Dutt’s portions. “Yes, Sanju is shooting for SHOOTOUT from 10th January onwards. We’re almost through with the film and hope to release it in April, after the World Cup,” Apoorva divulges.