Aman Kanth
In the Indian film industry, Sanjay Dutt is no ordinary name that passes by as just another Bollywood actor. Tall, brawny, brooding, impulsive are some of the adjectives which aptly define this macho actor who ruled the hearts of his fans during the 80s, 90s as well as in the contemporary cinema scene.
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Born on 29th July 1959 to yesteryears’ celebrated superstar Sunil Dutt and Nargis, the life and times of Sanjay Dutt are nothing short of a perfect movie script, interspersed with tragedy and a great sense of loss. Yet, despite all odds, Sanjay stoically met the challenges of life and has moved on with dignity.
Popularly known as ‘Deadly Dutt’ among close friends for his impulsive ways, Sanjay is known to be a gentle giant whose jolly demeanour has charmed many. He started his Bollywood innings in 1981 with ‘Rocky’, a movie that gave him instant recognition and stardom. However, with films like ‘Vidhaata’, ‘Naam’, ‘Hathyar’, ‘Sadak’, ‘Saajan’, ‘Yalgaar’, ‘Khalnayak’, ‘Gumrah’, ‘Vaastav: The Reality’, ‘Kaante’, ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’, Dutt proved his mettle and became a household name with an inimitable celeb status in an industry known for the ubiquitous Khans.
Down, but not out!
Despite enjoying thumping success in his halcyon days, Sanjay Dutt never had an ordinary life- a life coalesced with success and failure. Battling drug addiction during his school days, the tragic demise of Nargis (she died of cancer) in 1981 in the very year when Sanjay made his remarkable debut in Bollywood, left a deep impact on the actor’s psyche. For someone so close to his mother, the actor was down with a great sense of loss and became a severe drug addict.
He underwent a lot of emotional and psychological trauma and, meanwhile, delivered quite a few Box Office duds which virtually sealed his fate at Bollywood. Yet, the fighter that he is, Sanjay bounced back post a rigorous drug rehab stint in America and surprised Bollywood with his new avatar.
Hailed as the second innings of Sanjay, it was like a rebirth of the star who underwent a complete image makeover- the lanky actor had over night transformed into a macho hunk. Sanjay’s long mane became a trendsetter in Bollywood and was vastly emulated by co-stars.
Yet, as luck would have it; adversity continued to wreck Sanjay’s private life. Earlier, if it was the sad demise of Nargis, now it was the death of his first wife Richa Sharma (1996). Having lost his mother and wife to cancer, the actor faced the tragic blow with all his fortitude and never let the sorrow pin him down. The actor, who has a daughter (Trishala) with his first wife, married Rhea Pillai in 1998 and had an amicable divorce in 2005.
Tryst with destiny!
Sanjay’s woes did not end here as one of the major catastrophies was yet to appear in the form of illegal possession of arms. This is one of the darkest chapters in the life of the actor that still holds its grip on his fate.
When the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts rocked India, Sanjay Dutt’s name astonishingly featured as an accused and he was branded as a terrorist. On 19th April 1993, Sanjay was arrested for illegal purchase of arms from criminals involved in the blasts. The news of Sanjay’s arrest was a rude shock to the entire film industry and his fans as the actor spent sixteen months as an undertrial until the Supreme Court of India granted him bail in October 1995. The bail was just a momentary reprieve to the actor because his name figured as one of the co-accused in the Mumbai blasts case – an accusation that virtually ruined his image beyond repair.
The era marked umpteen court appearances for Sanjay Dutt who was charged of possessing illegal arms and destroying the same. However, with the charge of being a terrorist quashed against the actor, Sanjay was slapped with six years of rigorous imprisonment for buying pistols, AK 59 assault rifles and ammunitions from the Mumbai gangland on 31st July 2007.
The actor’s plea that he bought arms in order to save his family from the fear of Hindu-Muslim clashes fell on deaf ears. Dutt was jailed but was soon granted bail by the Supreme Court and his appeal for an exoneration is pending.
Sanjay and ‘Gandhigiri’
Hemmed by controversies and misfortunes on all sides, Sanjay stood on the threshold of oblivion until providence smiled on him again and blessed him with super hits like ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ – movies which portrayed Sanjay as an affable goon with a heart of gold – Murli Prasad Sharma.
These two movies worked wonders for the sagging fortunes of Sanjay thereby giving him a new lease of life in Bollywood as well as catapulting his political career with Samajwadi Party. This decision did not go down with his sisters who publicly distanced themselves form Dutt, saying theirs was Congress family. On January 2009, Dutt was scheduled to contest Lok Sabha elections on behalf of Samajwadi Party. However, the actor had to pull out from the elections in March 2009 as the Supreme Court declined to adjourn his conviction.
Presently, the actor is happily married to Dilnawaz Shiekh, popularly known as Manyata Dutt and is actively involved in Bollywood and politics. A versatile actor and a genial human being, Sanjay is enormously loved and respected in the film fraternity. In spite of living a life under duress, Dutt never gave away the zest for life and lived a king-size life.
Battered by the bereavement of a loving mother in Nargis and first wife Richa Sharma, Sanjay faced the trial of terrorism charges and finally the death of a doting father Sunil Dutt without a sigh and fortitude. He not only conquered his deadly drug addition but also triumphed over personal tragedy. Irrefutably, Sanjay Dutt is a born survivor who faced scores of ups and downs in his personal and professional front with humility.
On 29th July 2009, Sanjay Dutt celebrates his 50th birthday. Wishing all success and glory to this maverick actor, Happy Birthday Sanju Baba!
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