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Sanjay Dutt

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For the TNA wrestler, see Sonjay Dutt.
Sanjay Dutt
Other namesSanju Baba
Years active1971 1981-Present
Parent(s)Nargis Dutt, Sunil Dutt

Sanjay Dutt (born 29 July 1959) is an Indian Bollywood actor. A two time Filmfare Awards winner, he is the son of Bollywood stars Sunil Dutt and Nargis. On 31 July 2007, Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to a jail term of 6 years for illegal possession of firearms acquired from terrorist acquaintances, who were responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

Biography

Early days

Sanjay Dutt was born to one of Bollywood's most well-known star couples, Nargis Dutt and Sunil Dutt. He has two sisters, Priya Dutt and Namrata Dutt. He was educated at the Lawrence School Sanawar.

While he was still in high school, Sanjay Dutt suffered from drug abuse, probably as he was unable to handle the pressure of being celebrities' child. His drug problems worsened his mother's health, who was already diagnosed with cancer. Nargis Dutt died a few weeks before Sanjay Dutt's first film, Rocky, was to be released. A heartbroken Dutt took to doing more drugs. His father sent him to a rehab center in Texas. But on reaching New York, Dutt suffered from a collapsed lung. After attending a rehabilitation program in the United States, a sober Dutt started working in films again.

Rise as a notable actor

Sanjay Dutt acted in several successful films in the 1980s, including Vidhaata (1982), Naam (1986), and Hathyar (1989). He was reportedly director Subhash Ghai's first choice to play the lead in Hero (1983), but after witnessing Sanjay Dutt in his drug phase during the shooting of Vidhaata, Ghai picked Jackie Shroff in his place.

Sanjay Dutt married Richa Sharma who had nursed him back from his lung injury. A year later, the couple had a baby girl, Trishala. Just two months after Trishala's birth, Dutt learned that his wife had a brain tumor. After his wife succumbed to brain tumor, a bitter custody battle between Dutt and his in-laws over the custody of his only daughter ensued, which Dutt lost. Sanjay Dutt's sister, Namrata, married actor Kumar Gaurav, the son of yesteryears Bollywood star Rajendra Kumar.

Sanjay Dutt resurrected his cinema career with movies like Sadak (1991) and Saajan (1991). 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. He received a filmfare nomination for the film.

Arrest in 1993

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 allegedly instructed his friends to destroy the rifle. According to the allegations, 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.[1] During this time, he received considerable support from the Indian Film Industry, as well as his fans.[2][3]

After release in 1994

Once he was released from jail, Sanjay Dutt married Rhea Pillai. In 2001, he was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate about alleged hawala deals in connection with the probe into the underworld-Bollywood nexus.[4] No charges were filed in this case. Also in 2001, an audiotape, allegedly containing a phone conversaton between Sanjay Dutt and gangster Chhota Shakeel, surfaced in media. In the conversation, Dutt allegedly complained about his fellow actor Govinda coming late to the sets, among other things.[1]

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).

Sanjay Dutt and Rhea Pillai divorced in 2005, after spending the last few years of their marriage apart. Rhea later married tennis player Leander Paes. Sanjay Dutt's father, Sunil Dutt, an active politician, also died in May 2005.[5]. Sanjay Dutt's sister, Priya Dutt, contested and won the election for her father's constituency and became a Member of Parliament.

Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) earned Sanjay Dutt rave reviews. His latest release, Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), also did well.

2006 court verdict

On 28 November 2006, a special TADA court found actor Sanjay Dutt guilty under the Arms Act of possessing an illegal weapon. He was cleared, however, of the charges of terrorism and conspiracy. Judge P D Kode said of the ruling in the open court, "During my reasoning I have not found him (Sanjay) to be a terrorist." Dutt's bail has been extended a number of times since the ruling and is still in progress.[6] While Sanjay was cleared of terrorism charges namely the TADA Act, one of his friends who transported the AK-56 guns for Sanjay namely Baba Chouhan was found guilty under TADA Act.[7]

2007 arrest

In January 2007, a man called Abhimanyu Altekar filed an Intervener's Application, which opposed Sanjay Dutt's release in the 1993 bombings case.[8] Altekar had been acquitted by a sessions court, 16 years after he was arrested in a false case of planting a bomb outside the house of an Marathi daily editor in 1990. In his application, Altekar stated that one of the grounds of Dutt's application for seeking time to surrender was that he was the only earning member of the family. However, he was on bail for more than 12 years and had earned enough to make provisions for his family in case of a jail sentence. Altekar also argued that Dutt was mature enough at the time of buying illegal weapons, and did not deserve a reduced jail term. Though the intervener application filed by Altekar was rejected by the court, it raised doubt against of prosecution, the State Government of Maharashtra and the Indian Judiciary.

Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to 6 years rigorous imprisonment on 31 July 2007.[9] His aide Rusi Mulla, however, was awarded probation and is under observation for one year. The media reported that Sanjay Dutt's arrest put Rs. 150 crore of Bollywood business at stake. Sanjay Dutt was also fined Rs. 25,000 and his probation plea was rejected. [10]

Awards and nominations

International Indian Film Academy Awards

Filmfare Awards

Global Indian Film Awards

Stardust Awards

Star Screen Awards

Zee Cine Awards

Bollywood Movie Awards

Other Awards

  • 2003: Winner BFJA Best Actor for Munnabhai M.B.B.S.[14]
  • 2004: Winner Celebrity Style Male at the Bollywood Fashion Awards

Filmography

Forthcoming

Released

References

  1. ^ a b Sanjay Dutt: Bollywood's bad boy
  2. ^ Sanju baba has injected glamour to blasts' trial
  3. ^ The buck stops here
  4. ^ ED questions Sanjay Dutt
  5. ^ Bollywood legend Sunil Dutt dies
  6. ^ Final decision on Sanju's plea on Feb 23
  7. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/634672.cms
  8. ^ Sanjay Dutt's plea opposed, court dismisses interveining application
  9. ^ Sanjay Dutt gets six years in jail
  10. ^ "Sanjay Dutt gets six-year rigorous imprisonment". Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  11. ^ "2006 Global Indian Film Awards". mygifa.com. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  12. ^ Max Stardust Awards Winners
  13. ^ Winners of the Zee Cine Awards 2007
  14. ^ 67th Annual BFJA Awards
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