Sanjay Dutt wants to follow his father Sunil Dutt’s teachings!

Sanjay Dutt

Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt

Veteran actor Sanjay Dutt tells his late father and politician Sunil Dutt was his pillar of strength, and he feels his absence with each passing moment.

On Sunil Dutt's birth anniversary on 6th June, Sanjay told he cherishes all the time spent with him.

"To the pillar of my strength, happy birthday Dad. You may not be here but I feel your presence in every breath I take," Sanjay revealed to a media agency.

"I cherish the time we had and strive to imbibe your teachings. We miss you," he further added. 

Paresh Rawal was destined to play Sunil Dutt?

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who turned a year older recently, is all set to play the role of the late Sunil Dutt in the movie "Sanju", a biopic of Sanjay Dutt. He feels he was fated to essay the role.

He tells he had once received a letter on his birthday, and it was penned by Sunil Dutt, father of actor Sanjay Dutt on whose life the Rajkumar Hirani directorial is based.

Paresh told in a statement: "There is a very special connection of Sunil Dutt with me. Back in 2005 on the May 25, I was doing some patchwork in Mumbai for 'Deewane Huye Paagal', I went to a hotel as I landed from the US to make a call to my home when my wife Swaroop said Dutt saab had sent me a letter. I asked 'Whose?' She said, 'Sunil Dutt saab'. I was like, 'Why would he write a letter to me?'. She said, 'For your birthday'. I said my birthday is on May 30, why would he write a letter five days before. Straight cut to January 2, 2017, when I was at the narration of 'Sanju' at Rajkumar Hirani's house, I got a call from Swaroop asking me what to do of the letter of Dutt saab in the drawer... amazing connection. I asked her if the letter was still there? Earlier you would get birthday letters, which you would eventually clear. However, for over 12 years, the letter stayed in my drawer. This is the connection... I think I was destined to play Sunil Dutt."

I considered this industry as my friend but they just dropped me, reveals Sanjay Dutt!

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has been controversy's favorite ever since the actor was accused of involvement in the 1993 Mumbai Blast which shook the whole nation mainly the economic capital of the country.

The actor was later convicted for his role under the TADA and Arms Act. He was first arrested in April 1993 when the news of his role first broke out. The actor was later left on a parole and it is then when he gave an up personal interview to a famous daily.

In the interview dated 1993, Sanjay spoke about his experience in jail, industry and much more. In one of the heart-wrenching tale, he reveals how the industry whom he considered his family, dropped him at the time of adversity.

"Initially, I was at Crawford Market lock-up. I was on the third floor. There was not enough light and very little cross ventilation. I couldn't see anything but tree tops and a few buildings. Outside I could hear people's voices and cars honking. My mind kept ticking with tension. Yes, I was in isolation. Sometimes, I was allowed to come out. At those times, I used to look out and see people on the roads walking and envy their freedom. I realized the value of being free. Yes, I did make friends with some havaldars. They were very nice people. I slept on the ground. The cell wasn't anything special. I read somewhere that I had an air-conditioner installed for my comfort. All bullshit. I was allowed food from home but I didn't feel hungry. My family came to meet me- my sisters, Bunty. Mahesh Bhatt accompanied dad once," he had said, while adding, "My voice was choked most of the time and it was very difficult to see my sisters trying hard to be cheerful and putting up a brave and optimistic front."

Further, speaking about his father Sunil Dutt, Sanjay told, "I have started admiring father. I don't think I can ever be the kind of dad he's been. He's been through pains and agonies and yet he comes out winner. Somewhere down the line any person would have broken down. It's remarkable he hasn't. When I was released from jail he just said, 'Pull yourself together. No more. This is the last time."

Opening up about how his industry failed him, Sanjay Dutt told, "I was very hurt. If a colleague of mine had been in a similar situation I would have raised a hue and cry and generated some kind of support to see that some questions are answered. I considered the industry as my family. I thought I was their son but they just dropped me. I was quite shocked and then I realised that finally you are ALONE. I won't fight for anybody besides myself now. I did it once… the Press has always been nice to me, but when the industry decided to ban certain magazines, I supported them. No more. No more doing films for friends, no more going out of the way to help anybody."

But, he mentioned that there are perhaps a few industry friends he still respects and for whom he can go to any miles. "On second thoughts except for a few of them. Number one Shatrughan Sinha. He has done so much for me when I was in jail. I don't know how I will ever repay him. He is BJP, but he didn't care. He went against the party and supported my dad and me. That's what I call a man. He took the initiative and then the other people in the industry woke up. For me he is God. What I liked about him is that he'll fight for the truth. He believed I was innocent so he spoke his mind. Shatru, Dilip Kumar… they will always stand by my father. Yash Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, Afazal, Robin Bhatt, Subhash Ghai..."

Sanjay was released from Pune's Yerwada jail last year in February. He is presently gearing up for the release of his comeback movie Bhoomi wherein he will be seen playing dad to Aditi Rao Hydari.

Akshaye Khanna steps in the shoes of legendary Sunil Dutt for a biopic!

Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani's Sanjay Dutt biopic will see Ranbir Kapoor stepping into the shoes of Sanjay Dutt and is to hit the screens during Christmas 2017. Now, for the role of Sanjay's father Sunil Dutt, Hirani has roped in Akshaye Khanna. 

Akshaye was last seen in Rohit Dhawan’s Dishoom after a four-year break. Speaking about it, the 44-year-old actor told a leading told, “Once I was in front of the camera, I felt like I was able to breathe again, there was a sense of belonging.” He also further added, "I wanted to test the waters before taking on bigger roles. I had to earn my stripes again, after being away for four years. I had to start from scratch like any newcomer."