As Sanjay Dutt gears up for his new film Aakhri Sawal, a politically charged drama following his widely praised intense and memorable role in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the veteran actor continues to prove his enduring star power at 66.
Fans and critics alike are celebrating his ability to command the screen with raw energy and depth. Yet, behind the larger-than-life persona lies a journey that was not a cakewalk.
Let’s go into the flashback story of Bollywood’s Sanju Baba.
Beyond acting, Sanjay Dutt is a skilled guitarist. He recorded a song titled “Ae Shivani” in his own voice for the movie Khubsoorat (1999).
Born into Bollywood royalty as the son of legends Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, Sanjay’s life has been a rollercoaster of immense privilege, devastating personal losses, crippling addictions, legal battles, heartbreak, and ultimate resilience.
Interesting story behind his name, ‘Sanjay’
Sanjay Dutt with father Sunil Dutt, mother Nargis Dutt, and two sisters, Priya and Namrata.
Sanjay Balraj Dutt was born on July 29, 1959, in Mumbai (then Bombay) to actor-politician Sunil Dutt and iconic actress Nargis Dutt. His name, “Sanjay,” was not chosen by his parents in isolation but through a unique crowdsourcing effort via the popular Urdu film magazine Shama.
Readers suggested names, and Nargis reportedly promised an autographed picture and letter to the person whose suggestion was selected.
Was kidnapped in childhood on sets of his father’s film
Before his lead debut, he appeared as a child artist in 1971’s Reshma Aur Shera at age 12.
Tragedy and drama marked his childhood early. At around age four, while on the sets of his father’s film Mujhe Jeene Do (1963), young Sanjay was reportedly kidnapped but was safely returned unharmed.
He studied at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, and later Elphinstone College.
Despite the glamorous backdrop, Sanjay showed signs of rebellion young — he started smoking at just 9 years old, fascinated by cigarette butts at his father’s parties. His father once beat him for it, but the habit took root.
Debuted with the film ‘Rocky’ in 1981, but mother couldn’t watch it
After his mother’s death, he moved to Texas in 1984 for drug rehabilitation.
Sanjay made his acting debut with Rocky (1981), directed by and starring his father Sunil Dutt. His mother Nargis, passed away from pancreatic cancer just days before the film’s release, a blow widely cited as accelerating his descent into drugs. He was already heavily addicted during filming. In one harrowing incident, he carried nearly 1 kg of heroin hidden in his shoes while traveling for a Kashmir shoot.
‘I woke up after 2 days after taking heroin’: Sanjay
Mother Nargis often covered for Sanjay in his younger days, telling Sunil Dutt he was home while he partied all night.
In a candid interview, Sanjay recalled one low point: after taking drugs and alcohol, he slept for two full days. When he woke up hungry and disoriented, his servant cried, revealing he had been unconscious while the house panicked. Shocked by his puffy reflection in the mirror, he approached his father: “Save me.” Sunil Dutt sent him to rehab in the US.
Relationship with Tina Munim ended due to addiction
Before they were co-stars, Sanjay Dutt and Tina Munim knew each other since childhood.
Sanjay’s romantic life has been as turbulent as his career. His first major relationship was with Rocky co-star Tina Munim (now Tina Ambani). The affair ended bitterly, reportedly due to his addiction.
Post-breakup, a distraught and intoxicated Sanjay allegedly fired shots in Pali Hill, leading to a dramatic scene where he clung to a barbed wire fence, bleeding and crying out in despair. His name was linked with Madhuri Dixit, too.
His first wife passed away after a brain tumour
He married actress Richa Sharma in 1987. She passed away from a brain tumour in 1996.
Richa Sharma made her Bollywood debut in the 1985 film Hum Naujawan alongside Dev Anand and Anupam Kher. Left acting after marrying Sanjay Dutt.
Their daughter, Trishala Dutt (born 1988), grew up in the US and has pursued a career in psychology and mental health advocacy, largely staying away from the Bollywood spotlight.
Sanjay Dutt with his daughter Trishala.
Sanjay’s relationship with Trishala has had its complexities, including her reported unhappiness with certain portrayals in the biopic Sanju.
Sanjay Dutt’s sister-in-law called Madhuri a ‘home wrecker’
Both shared the screen in nearly 10 films together, including Khatron Ke Khiladi, Thanedaar, Ilaaka, Saajan, and Khalnayak.
During the filming of ‘Saajan,’ Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit reportedly grew close, a period coinciding with Sanjay Dutt’s first wife, Richa Sharma, battling cancer in America. This closeness sparked controversy, with Richa’s sister publicly accusing Madhuri of being a “home wrecker.”
The situation intensified as Sanjay Dutt faced legal troubles related to the Mumbai bomb blast case, accused of possessing illegal weapons. Amidst the controversy and legal pressure, Madhuri distanced herself from Sanjay, leading to their separation.
Second failed marriage to Rhea Pillai
Before marrying Sanjay in 1998, Rhea Pillai was married to a US national named Michael Vaz.
His second marriage was to model Rhea Pillai (divorced). In 2008, he married Manyata Dutt (born Dilnawaz Sheikh) on February 7, 2008 at Taj Exotica in Goa. Two years after marriage, on October 21, 2010, the couple welcomed their beautiful twins, Shahraan (son) and Iqra (daughter).
It is said that Sanjay’s sisters did not attend his wedding with Maanayata and did not accept her as their sister-in-law. However, things have changed in the past few years. Now Maanayata has a very good relationship with her sisters-in-law.
Wife Maanayata did her first film ” Lover’s Like Us” under her real name Dilnawaz Shaikh.
Manyata has been a pillar of strength during his later years. Biopic Sanju
Vicky Kaushal’s character ‘Kamli’ in Sanju was inspired by Sanjay Dutt’s real-life friend Paresh Ghelani.
The 2018 biopic Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor, dramatised many of these elements — wild parties, multiple relationships, including the exaggerated “308 women” claim, drug-fueled chaos, and family support, though it faced criticism for omissions, such as limited focus on Richa and Trishala.
The actor’s personal life has been as dramatic as his on-screen personas, with reports suggesting having over 308 affairs throughout his lifetime. However, Sanjay Dutt himself never said anything about this, except that he had affairs in his youth.
The Darkest Chapter: Jail, TADA, and Underworld Links
When Sanjay Dutt was arrested.
In 1993, following the Mumbai serial blasts, Sanjay was arrested under the stringent TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act) for illegal possession of weapons, including an AK-56 rifle allegedly procured through underworld contacts linked to the blasts.
He maintained the guns were for family protection amid riots. He was eventually convicted under the Arms Act (not fully under TADA for terror charges), sentenced to five years, and completed his term after various bail and appeals, walking free in 2016.
Worked as a Radio Jockey for the prison radio station
During his time in Pune’s Yerawada Jail, Sanjay turned productive: he worked as a Radio Jockey for the prison radio station, ran a theatre group with inmates (including murder convicts as actors), and engaged in carpentry and other activities.
His connections to the underworld, particularly during the 1990s, were widely reported and dramatized in Sanju, though Sanjay has often downplayed the extent.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. brought a turning point
Sanjay wasn’t the first choice for many iconic roles; Aamir Khan was offered Saajan, while Shah Rukh Khan was considered for Munna Bhai M.B.B.S..
Despite multiple rehabs, legal woes, and personal losses, Sanjay reinvented himself multiple times — from the angry young man and action hero to the beloved Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which showcased his comic timing and warmth. He has won several awards, including Filmfare recognitions.
From prison walls to silver screen: The making of ‘Khalnayak Returns’
Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming film, ‘Khalnayak Returns,’ has an unusual origin story. The sequel to the 1993 classic was conceived during Sanjay Dutt’s time in Pune’s Yerwada Jail. Facing a five-year sentence, He used his time for reflection, turning his experiences into creative inspiration.
What’s remarkable is that the idea wasn’t born in a typical writer’s room. Instead, 4,000 inmates contributed ideas, adding a unique and human element to the film’s foundation. The character of Ballu, flawed yet relatable, resonated deeply within the prison walls, shaping the sequel unexpectedly. Fans eagerly anticipate how Dutt revisits this iconic role and how the film adapts to a contemporary audience.
Ruled audiences’ hearts by becoming a villain, not a hero
Despite all the ups and downs in life, the position that Sanjay Dutt achieved in Bollywood was not easy for any ordinary actor. With his powerful acting and dialogue delivery, Sanjay Dutt has created a distinct identity in Bollywood.
Sanjay Dutt has played various types of characters in his career, but his villainous and gangster roles have been especially appreciated. His style of dialogue delivery has made him a popular and memorable actor.
His life inspired not just Sanju but also reflects a larger story of redemption. As he often says, life is not about the falls, but the courage to stand up again.
