It may be hard for all you girls out there to believe there can be a person who cannot tolerate Shahid Kapoor, but Sanjay Dutt is just that person.

After having worked with him once in Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi (2005), directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, Dutt refuses to sign more films with Shahid Kapoor. We tried to find out why?

“Sanjay Dutt was finalized in a mature role for Sanjay Gadhvi directed Kidnap. The film was supposed to have two heroes, a much younger actor along with Sanjay Dutt. Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd was keen to sign up Shahid Kapoor who had then just started shooting for their film Jab We Met, because they were impressed with his professionalism,” an industry insider revealed, “But Dutt bluntly and categorically refused to work with Shahid Kapoor. He told them anyone else but Shahid would do! There was surprise all around because no one heard of a problem between Dutt and Kapoor.” our source continues.

“Deferring to Dutt’s wishes, the producers proposed Kunal Khemmu’s name. Kunal too was at that time doing a film for them, the Rohit Jugraj directed Superstar. Harman Baweja was also considered but the director of the film, the Dhoom series maker, Sanjay Gadhvi, was keen to sign up Imran Khan. This was much before Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na happened so the producers and Dutt insisted on an audition for Imran.

“The role required a young but tough lad and despite his chocolate cream hero exterior Imran’s audition convinced everyone that he could pull if off easily and he was signed on.”

So where does the bad blood between Dutt and Kapoor come from we asked a close friend of Dutt.

“Shahid inadvertently offended Dutt while working with him on Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi ,” the friend explained. “Shahid played the role of a young lad who dies suddenly and Dutt played a modern day Yamdoot assigned to Shahid. Almost all of Dutt’s scenes were with Shahid but during the breaks between the shots Shahid would mostly keep to himself and not go beyond exchanging pleasantries. Dutt felt slighted at being ignored by the junior star. To make matters worst, the film flopped.”

Another industry insider told us, “Dutt is very close to Salman Khan and everyone knows how much Salman hates Shahid following the Rockstars world tour. Shahid’s well meaning advice on dance steps during the tour rehearsals offended Sallu and since then all Salman’s friends have avoided working with Shahid.

“Salman, who did not work with Kareena Kapoor since Kyon Ki (2005) because of her relationship with Shahid, has agreed to work with her again following her break up last year.”

However a friend of Shahid’s from the film fraternity had a different take. He claims, “Shahid is a reserved person who doesn’t take liberties with any of the senior co-stars. He has always been in awe of Sanjay Dutt and he maintained his distance out of deep respect. His deference was probably miscued by Dutt.”