Director Lokesh Kanagaraj has responded to Sanjay Dutt's comments regarding his role in the 2023 film Leo, starring Thalapathy Vijay. At a teaser launch event for his upcoming film KD - The Devil, Dutt jokingly said he was "angry" with Lokesh for not giving him a bigger role in Leo and that he "wasted" him.

Kanagaraj addressed Dutt's remarks in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He clarified that there were no hard feelings between him and Dutt, explaining that Dutt had contacted him after the event. According to Kanagaraj, Dutt said his comment was meant to be funny, but it became awkward after being circulated on social media. Kanagaraj simply told Dutt it was not a problem.

Kanagaraj humbly stated that he is still learning and evolving as a filmmaker. "I'm not a genius or a great filmmaker who wouldn't write stories that overshadow other characters," he said. He admitted to making mistakes in his films and expressed a desire to collaborate with Dutt again in the future to "make it up to him".

In Leo, Dutt played Harold Das, the father of Vijay's character. While Dutt praised working with Vijay, he felt his role was not substantial enough. Some fans also echoed this sentiment, feeling that Dutt's screen time was limited and his character was underutilized. Despite the criticism, Leo, which was partially inspired by A History of Violence, was a commercial success. The film is about Parthiban, a coffee shop owner, who gains unwanted attention after a self-defense incident brings his past into light.

Dutt has been focusing on South Indian cinema, with roles in films like KGF: Chapter 2. He has expressed admiration for other stars in the South, including Ajith, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan. Kanagaraj is currently working on Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, which is slated to release on August 14, 2025. The film is set against the backdrop of a harbor and the lives of laborers and may feature cameos from Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra Rao, and Aamir Khan.