Profile

It proves to be a great onus of expectations for any young man to make a mark in a profession where one parent has excelled in. Being a son of one of Bollywood's most well-known star couples, Nargis Dutt and Sunil Dutt, for Sanjay Dutt (born 29 July 1959), the level of expectations was doubly loaded.

Family

Sanjay Dutt is born to Bollywood's superstar couple, Nargis Dutt and Sunil Dutt. He has two younger sisters, Priya Dutt and Namrata Dutt. As a kid, he attended the prestigious Lawrence School at Sanawar in Himchal Pradesh, India. Nargis Dutt died a few weeks before Sanjay Dutt's first film, Rocky, was to be released. Sanjay Dutt's father, Sunil Dutt, an active politician, died in May 2005.Sanjay Dutt's sister, Priya Dutt, contested and won the election for her father's constituency and became a Member of Parliament. Sanjay Dutt's sister, Namrata is married to actor Kumar Gaurav, the son of yesteryears Bollywood star Rajendra Kumar.

Sanjay Dutt married Richa Sharma (a small-time film actress) in 1987 who had nursed him back from a lung injury. A year later, the couple had a baby girl, Trishala. Just two months after Trishala's birth, Risha was diagnosed with cancer and the couple separated. Richa moved to United States with her daughter to live with her parents while Dutt pursued his career in Bollywood. After his wife succumbed to brain tumor in 1996, a bitter custody battle between Dutt and his in-laws over the custody of his only daughter ensued, which Dutt lost.

In 1998, on Valentine’s Day Sanjay exchanged wedding vows with his long time girlfriend Rhea Pillia. But the relationship did not work for long. Sanjay Dutt and Rhea Pillai divorced in 2005, after spending the last few years of their marriage apart.

Coming of age as an actor

Sanjay Dutt’s debut in films was one of the most anticipated ones in Hindi film history. Sanjay was pitch forked into limelight, when his debut film,”Rocky” (1981) was announced. "Rocky", directed by his father, was a relative hit at the box-office, but both father and son were really not able to savour its success. Nargis Dutt died a few weeks before Sanjay Dutt's “Rocky” was to be released, after fighting a grim battle with cancer.

The emotional turmoil tossed the Dutt household into an emotional frenzy. Sanjay Dutt was at the first crossroad of his life. His arrival at the Hindi film scene had been heralded as the coming of a new star whilst at the same time, he had lost the most important person in his life. Sanjay Dutt acted in several successful films in the 1980s, including Vidhaata (1982), Naam (1986), and Hathyar (1989). Sanjay Dutt resurrected his cinema career with movies like Sadak (1991) and Saajan (1991). The double whammy of "Saajan" (1991) and "Sadak" (1991) catapulted him in the league of superstars. These two films also enabled him to change his image from the next angry young man to an action hero terminology. His portrayal of the sacrificing poet in "Saajan", especially, was a revelation to the industry pundits who were not inclined to admit to, Sanjay’s ability to act. He received his first Filmfare nomination for the best actor in a lead role, for the film Saajan. His breakthrough role came in Subhash Ghai's Khalnayak (1993), which became a huge hit and gave his career a boost and for which he received a filmfare nomination for the film.

An Upheaval Journey

Sanjay Dutt suffered from drug abuse right from when he was in High school, probably as he was unable to handle the pressure of being the child of two celebrities. A topsy-turvy fast life of partying, drugs, booze etc. followed as a result of which his promising career as an actor went for a toss. Despite super-hit films, Sanjay was on a roller coaster ride of self-destruction.

Being heavily doped-out, Sanjay lost the bearings of his career, his father and family stepped in to try and provide the emotional anchor that was badly needed. After a complete rehabilitation programme, Sanjay Dutt returned to his acting vocation with a vengeance with "Naam" (1986).

The Mumbai bomb blasts are one of the worst urban terrorist acts of the modern world history. The whole film industry, was in for a rude shock, whilst dealing with this calamity, when they opened their morning newspapers to discover that Sanjay Dutt had been implicated as one of the participants in this inhumane wanton act. The release of Khalnayak (1993) happened to coincide with Sanjay Dutt's arrest in connection with the 1993 Mumbai Bombings. He was convicted of illegal possession of arms and ammunition, which were allegedly part of the consignment used in the bombings. According to the CBI case filed in a TADA court, it was alleged that the gangster Abu Salem and his men went to Dutt's house on 16 January 1993 and gave him three AK-56 rifles, 25 hand grenades, one 9 mm pistol and cartridges. He returned two AK-56 rifles, hand grenades and cartridges to Hanif Kadawala and Samir Hingora but kept one AK-56 rifle with himself. The rifle and cartridges allegedly formed part of the consignment, which was smuggled into India at Dighi Port on 9 January 1993.

On learning that Mumbai police were looking to question Sanjay Dutt, his father asked him to immediately return from Mauritius, where he was shooting for a film. On learning of Mumbai Police's investigation about his involvement in the blasts, Dutt instructed his friends to destroy the rifle. The rifle was destroyed by Yusuf Nullawalla, Kersi Adjenia, Rusi Mulla and Ajay Marwah in accordance with Dutt's request. Dutt then called the then Mumbai Police Commissioner of Police and informed him of his plans to return to India immediately, where he was arrested upon landing.

Sanjay Dutt acknowledged that he personally knew the other accused, but denied the charges that he was involved with the larger conspiracy. He was arrested on 19 April 1993 (about a month after the blasts) and spent more than 18 months in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, before being released on bail. During this time, he received considerable support from the Indian Film Industry, as well as his fans

The Resurrection of Hero

After his release from jail 1995, Dutt won himself a fan following with a variety of roles, including gangster and comic roles. He was noted for his performances in several films including Vaastav (1999), Mission Kashmir (2000), Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003). He also set up a production company with director Sanjay Gupta. The company, called White Feather Films, produced several films, including Kaante (2002), Musafir (2004) and Zinda (2005).
Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) earned Sanjay Dutt rave reviews. His latest release, Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), also did well.

No Mercy

Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to 6 years rigorous imprisonment on 31 July 2007 by judge P.D.Kode. The media reported that Sanjay Dutt's arrest put Rs. 1.5 billion of Bollywood business at stake. Sanjay Dutt was also fined Rs. 25,000 and his probation plea was rejected.

Sanjay Dutt was shifted from Arthur Road jail in Mumbai to the Yerwada Jail in Pune On August 2, 2007.