I was browsing through a recent edition of Filmfare when I discovered this moving account of Sanjay Dutt‘s life written by his own sister, Namrata Dutt. It was so refreshing to read something that gave me an insight into the more human side of my favorite movie star, a side that not many people know about.
Although, he was a really pampered kid, Nargis and Sunil Dutt sent little Sanjay off to boarding school at a really young age. The whole bit where Namrata talks about about him being miserable as a third grader away from his mom and writing letters each day as he wanted to come back home moved me to tears. Namrata even revealed facts about Sanjay’s substance abuse and how it totally ruined his life while it lasted. But the worst was yet to come. Nargis passed away a few days before the release of Sanjay’s first movie, Rocky leaving him devastated. This was followed by his arrest under the TADA act and the long drawn battle against the courts to prove his innocence. But, Sanjay never gave up on life and has fought back with a vengeance. Everyone in his family especially his sisters are so utterly glad (and relieved) that Sanjay’s all well settled with his wife Manyata Dutt and his adorable toddler twins, Shahraan and Iqra by his side and has finally moved over a shockingly tumultous past.
For me, the man is a real life hero. From being that insecure (and later rebellious) kid back in Lawrence School to becoming everyone’s Munnabhai and preaching Gandhigiri, he sure has come a long way. I love that all his movies and the characters he plays to perfection have always been such a deep and meaningful reflection of the battles that he has fought in his own life.
His pathbreaking performances in films like Vaastav, Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai and more recently Agneepath have had such a great impact on our lives. We sure hope that his talent and his movies continue to inspire and entertain us for a really long time.
Here’s a big jadoo ki jhappi (hug) for this survivor. Team MissMalini wishes him a rocking birthday full of cherished memories with loved ones.