Sanjay Dutt at Time Avenue Festive Collection Launch

Sanjay Dutt

“Nayak Nahi Khalnayak Hoon Main”-Son of the famous duo Nargis and Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt’s life and career have been punctuated with varied experiences both good and bad. From blockbuster hits to being behind the bars, Sanju has faced it all with a brave heart.

Born in Mumbai on 29th July 1959, Sanjay Balraj Dutt, has two sisters Priya and Namrata. Though he was the son of a superhero, his upbringing was like any other child. With a towering height of 6’1”, Sanjay debuted with the hit flick “Rocky” in 1981, the same year his mother Nargis died.

This was a phase of tremendous ordeal for the young lad. He was arrested under TADA and also scrutinized for illegal possession of arms. After his release from prison, Sanju baba (as he is fondly called), gave three consecutive hits namely, “Daag:The Fire”, “Vaastav” and “Haseena Maan Jayegi” all of which released in 1999.

A string of films followed with Sanjay in different roles like the tough cop in “Mission Kashmir” and “Dus”, the comic character in “Jodi No. 1” and “Chal Mere Bhai” and the obsessed writer in “Shabd”.

In 2004 came “Munna Bhai MBBS” with Sanjay playing the title role. This film broke all previous records, got him the best comedian award and set much higher standards of film making. It was a satire on the medical profession underlined with human emotions.

Soon a sequel followed titled “Lage Raho Munna Bhai”. Even this film was a class apart highlighting the preachings of our beloved Bapu.

On the personal front a lot was happening simultaneously. His 1st wife Richa died of cancer. His re marriage to long time girl friend Rhea Pillai, also headed for splitsville. In 2005, Sanjay lost his father and guide Sunil Dutt.

Sanjay is father to Trishala Dutt, who is studying Forensic Science in America. Recently he was accused of possessing illegal arms and jailed. Though he has been bailed, his tryst with the court continues. Time will tell what’s in store for this superstar of Bollywood.

Sanjay Dutt had shown interest in buying an Indian Premier League franchise

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt had shown interest in buying an Indian Premier League franchise when he met the cash-rich Twenty20 League Commissioner Lalit Modi here.

"Yes, he met Lalit Modi yesterday to get details about buying an IPL team," top sources in the Cricket Board told PTI today.Dutt is trying to follow the footsteps of Bollywood celebrities Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla and Shilpa Shetty in buying stakes in IPL franchises.

Shah Rukh is the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders in which Juhi Chawla has stakes while Preity and Shilpa have stakes in the Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals franchises respectively.
Dutt is the second Bollywood celebrity after Salman Khan to have met Modi recently to discuss about buying an IPL franchise.From:www.ptinews.com

B'day Spl: Rare Photos of Sanjay Dutt

Sanju's definitely closer to me: Amar Singh

In an industry where you are known by the clique you belong to, it wasn't surpising that at a sombre gathering for Feroz Khan's prayer meeting, B-Town folks noticed and discussed that Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh made an entry and exit with Sanjay Dutt, and not Amitabh Bachchan.

Until now, the politician has been seen at filmi dos only at the Big B's side, so naturally, it became a talking point. Amitabh, came to the venue with wife Jaya, son Abhishek and bahu Aishwarya.

Changing sides?

Last year, the Big B came with Amar Singh to the book release function of Sanjay, Priya and Namrata Dutt's parents: Sunil and Nargis Dutt. Now, Sanjay is being accompanied to most events by Singh. Says a source, "After the prayer meeting, Singh went with Jaya to Bachchan's home; but now, it's Sanju first and Bachchan later."

The source says it's natural for Singh to get close to Dutt as the actor has been campaigning for him and his party (SP) over the last two months for the elections. "Apart from the fact that Sanju knows Amar Singh for the last 14 years they have become emotionally close in the last couple of months. Earlier when Singh used to come to Mumbai, he would head first to Bachchan's Juhu home but now he goes to Sanju's Bandra home first, spends some time with Sanju and Maanayata and then goes to meet Bachchan."

Amitji is family

Amar Singh refutes the fact that he's become closer to Dutt. "Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) is my family and my elder brother. He's not a commodity to be chased after. Sanju is definitely closer to me politically than Amitji because he's my party's general secretary and has campaigned hard during the elections. He could have got an escape route when he wasn't allowed to contest but he chose to serve with dignity. Amitji is apolitical. He doesn't like politics. If you ask me, then I will say that Amitji can never be replaced in my personal life. He's the head of my family."

Singh continues, "When I go to Mumbai I stay in Amitji's home. I am the only Amar Singh who shares his bedroom. I am politically equally close to Jaya and Sanju though I am more comfortable with Sanju as he's a guy. I know Sanju for the last 15 years and if today, I am closer to him it's because he's stood beside me like a rock during the elections like my younger brother. But that doesn't mean that Amitji has not been with me. It's absurd to compare the two relationships."

About Feroz Khan's prayer meeting, Singh says, "I had no plans to go there but Sanju was with me campaigning and while boarding the plane he asked me to come along. It was all last-minute, but now because I went with him that visit has become a point of discussion."

I am ready to face anything: Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt speaks up about sis Priya, 'big bro' Amar Singh, pativrata patni, Maanyata, his detractors, the filmi feuds et al. And why he prefers being Baba over being the new Duttsaab

From recent interviews, it looks like you've learnt to speak like a politician. You deflect questions and use humour to get out of some. How do you approach the media as a neta, Sanjay? Are you guarded?
No, I don't look at it differently at all. I feel I'm the same old Sanjay talking to the media that I was 20 years ago. But yes, I think time makes you more diplomatic in your answers.

You're seen as a Bombay boy. How has it been campaigning in Lucknow?
I know that some people feel I'm an outsider to Lucknow, but how can you do that? I'm an Indian first and I have the right to stand from any part of the country that I feel. Lucknow is a part of India. It's been a great experience campaigning and not at all tiring. My family has always been involved in social service and Gandhian sentiments. My ethics are the same.

Raj Thackeray recently brought up the fact that you were standing from Lucknow. Were you referring to him just now?
No, I never meant Rajbhai. Some people in Lucknow have been questioning why I'm standing from there. There has been a campaign against me, but I'm ready to face everything, even if they dig up the past. I can't start trading abuses, but I'll let my work talk for itself.

You've now appealed to the Supreme Court for your case. But your opponents have used the AK-47 allegation against you. How do you deal with this?
I'm used to it; I've faced it for 18 years. The allegations are baseless and they don't have their facts right. In its last judgment in my case, the honourable court has taken the draconian part out of my case. I'm no longer a TADA convict and it's now seen under the Arms Act. I feel people should go by the facts. I'm amused that they bring up my past, but it doesn't matter. I've helped people all the time for cancer, AIDS, drugs. I want my work to speak for me. I've been helping people not to be in the news, but because it makes me feel good.

Tell us five things about your constituency, Lucknow?
See, I'm still learning about the voters. I feel the essence of Lucknow is its chikan work and that has died. I'm trying to revive and enhance that. I'd like to do something in the IT sector and the medical facilities there are bad. I've been speaking to the people there and they have concerns like electricity, water, law and order. I also feel, why should people leave Lucknow for jobs? It's my dream that it gets so developed that other people come looking for jobs there.

The complaint against actors is that once they're elected, they forget their constituency. Will you be based here or in Lucknow? How will you be able to do all this work?
Lucknow isn't too far. I'm definitely not going to leave films, but I'll cut down on my work and choose my movies carefully. I want to do a lot. I know actors have faced flak over this, but I'm Sunil and Nargis Dutt's son. It's in my genes.

What about Parliament attendance? Actors are notoriously bad at that. How will you balance acting and politics?
You know, once you schedule your life, you can go with it. All of it is manageable.

Sanjay, how do you think your father Sunil would have reacted to you joining the Samajwadi Party?
It's a tricky question and difficult to answer. But my father was my strength, my force. I believe he would have respected my decision.

Your sister Priya said recently that you'd learn a sense of reality from politics. Is that true?
I feel I'm in the process of growing as a person after joining politics. I read what she said, but I think I've faced more reality than others (laughs). This is some new aspect she's talking about.

The popular notion is that your mentor Amar Singh creates rifts in families. Can you clear the air?
Nothing has happened in my family. There is no rift. It's because I'm an actor that it keeps getting written about. Every family has ups and downs. Priya is my younger sister and if she's said anything in anger, I forgive her. We'll always be together.

Amar Singh is like family. He's my older brother. He's been selflessly standing beside me. Amar Singhji takes a stand for someone he cares about and there's nothing wrong in that. It's a rare quality. It's not right to call him a home-breaker.

In a TV interview, you said your wife Maanyata had nothing to do with your decision to enter politics. This interview, though, was arranged after consulting her...
No, no, not at all. You see, my work is divided. I can't handle everything. Press, politics, acting if I did it all, I wouldn't be able to sleep! (laughs) I asked Maanyata to handle my interviews now. But really, her decisions are taken in the kitchen, over whether it should be biryani, chicken or kebabs.

If the court says you can't stand, will Maanyata stand in your place, like Amar Singh suggested?
That's not decided yet. If the court doesn't allow me, I'll respect that. But I'll still go to Lucknow and campaign for whosoever the party chooses.

You had the bad boy image, in real life and on screen. Will you stop doing negative roles if you're elected?
Depends on the role. The script is most important. People remember Munnabhai and Vaastav the most; the emotions and sentiments that come through. I've already cut down on gangster roles. But I won't let a character I'm playing define my life. People recognise it's just a character and I'm only entertaining them.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra said at the Jaipur literary fest that he was disappointed that the concepts of Gandhigiri and jaadoo ki jhappi were being used by political parties.
Vinod is my older brother; he's absolutely right. It shouldn't be used in campaigning I respect that and Amar Singh agreed. That said, I can't stop the public from chanting Munnabhai when I go on rallies. I can't stop you press people from using that to describe me.

How are things between you and Priya?
I'm not against my sister or I would have stood against her in her constituency. We're the same blood.

You raised objections to her taking her father's name?
I have no problems with a woman keeping her father's name. I was misquoted. But the fact remains that after a woman gets married, she should respect her married name. Even Indiraji could have kept the name Nehru, but she chose Gandhi.

What of Abu Azmi saying that if Congress puts up a candidate opposite you in Lucknow, you will campaign in Mumbai against Priya?
I've no answer to that. He never said that. The party decides, but I know they will not make me do it. They understand the bond.

How do you react to Varun Gandhi's statements? You are half-Muslim yourself.
I won't comment on that. I'll only speak for myself.

Rumours are that you're not committing to more dates on your film Blue, directed by Anthony D'Souza. Too busy with politics?
I've given all my dates to Blue. They had asked for 65 days, I shot for nearly a hundred. I'd give more to finish the film. There's no problem.

Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar lately, we've heard all of them take potshots at each other. Where is Sanjay Dutt in all this?
Sanjay Dutt is not a number. I'm not concerned with the numbers game. I don't get involved.

Will your friends from the film industry campaign for you?
If they come out of their own will, they're welcome. But I'll never ask them to campaign for me.

Finally, how do you people see you today as the new Duttsaab or as Sanju Baba?
I feel Baba will remain a favourite. As for Duttsaab, if I'm even 10 per cent of what he was, I'll feel like I've won the battle.