Sanjay Balraj Dutt also known as Sanju Baba is an Indian actor , playback singer and film producer born on 29 July 1959, who works in Hindi cinema. In addition to a few Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi films. One of the most popular and recognized actors of Hindi cinema, in a career spanning over four decades. Dutt has won several awards and acted in over 135 films. Dutt has gained a lot of fame with his movies such as Vaastav, Munna bhai series and as a villain character in Kannada film KGF Chapter 2. He emerged as a sensitive actor, alongside being the top prominent action hero of 80s & 90s Bollywood, whilst also finding noteworthy praise in the comedic genre.
Background :
Sanjay Dutt is part of the Dutt family, he is the son of Actor- Politicians Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt. Dutt made his acting debut in Bollywood with Rocky in 1981, directed by his father (Sunil Dutt). A career downturn followed , with the exception of the crime thriller Naam in 1986, a brilliant milestone in his career. He did the film name Vaastav : The reality in 1999 which led him to won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his best performance.
Dutt gained widespread acclaim for playing the role of Munna bhai in Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai series (2003- 2006). His most iconic role, and his biggest sole commercial success ever. Since 2000, his other notable films include – Jodi No.1 (2001), Rakht, Musafir (both 2004), shabd , Parineeta , Dus (all 2005), Shootout at Lokhandwala , Dhamaal (both 2007), All the Best (2009), Double Dhamaal (2011), Agneepath, and Son of Sardaar (both 2012). He reunited with Hirani on PK (2014). This was followed by another major career downturn with the exceptions of Kannada Film KGF Chapter 2 (2022) and the Tamil Film Leo (2023), the former being the 4th- highest grossing Indian film and the latter being the 12th highest grossing Indian film, both in which he plays the main antagonist.
• Dutt was arrested under the TADA and the Arms Act in april 1993 . Will be explain briefly in this blog.
Early Life :
Sanjay Dutt was born in Bombay city to parents who were Hindi cinema actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt. Sanjay has two sisters, Priya Dutt and Namrata Dutt. Sanjay’s name was first-line by crowdsourcing via the Urdu language film magazine Shama. His mother died in 1981, sadly before his debut film’s premiere; her death is cited as the instigator of his drug abuse.
Drug Addiction :
For years, Dutt struggled with drug abuse, being addicted to cocaine and heroin in particular, having started them for attracting the girls as he put it, his friend was responsible for his drug addiction as he extracts money from Sanjay in order to give him different variety of drugs. But after years of rehab and personal struggle he eventually overcame his drug addiction.
Involvement in 1993 Bombay serial Bombings :
Bombay suffered a series of serial bombings in 1993. Many people died. Dutt was among several people associated with Bollywood who were accused of involvement. It was alleged that Dutt accepted a delivery of weapons at his house from Abu Salem and co-accused Riyaz Siddiqui, who had also been implicated in relation to bombay blasts. It was claim that the weapons formed a part of a large consignment of arms connected to the terrorists. Dutt, however, in his confession stated he took only one type-56 from the producers of the movie Sanam, for his own family protection. It has also been reported that Sanjay Dutt’s father Sunil Dutt’s political rivalry caused Sanjay Dutt’s conviction.
On 19 April 1993, after initial reporting by Baljeet Parmar on Dutt’s possession of the AK-56, he was arrested under the provisions of the Terrorist and Desruptive Activities Act (TADA). Dutt was granted bail by the Supreme court of India on 5 may 1993. However, on 4 july 1994 his bail was took back and he was re-arrested. On 16 October 1995 he was granted bail. Abdul Qayyum Karim Shaikh, who was thought to be a close aide of the terrorist’s ringleader, Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested. Dutt had given Qayuum’s name to the police when confessing to arms possession, saying that in September 1992 he had bought a pistol from Qayuum in Dubai. His arrest coincided with the release of his film, Khalnayak, in which he played a wanted criminal. The film’s major success was in part due to Dutt’s off-screen legal controversy.
on 31 july 2007, Dutt was vacant of the charges relating to Mumbai blast. However, the TADA court sentenced him to six year’s rigorous inprisonment under Arms Act for illegal possession of weapons. Dutt was reciprocate to at the Arthur Road Jail and soon after moved to Yerawada Central Jail in Pune. Dutt was given interim bail on 20 august 2007. On 21 march 2013 the supreme court upheld the verdict but shortened the sentence to five years imprisonment. Dutt was given a month to surrender before the authorities. He was free from Yerawada Central Jail on 25 February 2016 after serving his sentence.
Off-screen work :
Hosting :
Dutt co-hosted the fifth-season of the Indian reality show Bigg Boss along with Salman Khan. The show aired on Colors television from 2 October 2011 to 7 January 2012. Dutt later said it was Khan who persuaded him to co-host the show.
Poetry :
While in jail, Dutt wrote some Hindi Poetry, around 100 couplets, that he aims to release as a book in the future, under the title Salaakhen (Lock Up).
Health Issues :
Sanjay Dutt was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung cancer. He took treatment in Mumbai and also in foreign and now he recovered from lung cancer .
Biopic :
Hence, Sanjay Dutt had a very much tough journey throughout his life. The Biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s life was also presented by the Indian Director Rajkumar Hirani name as Sanju performed by Ranbir Kapoor.
