Controversy’s Favorite Child – Sanjay Dutt

Drug Abuse

Quoting him from a certain interview at Rendezvous, I conspicuously remember him exclaiming to the host Simi Garewal, “There hasn’t been any phase in my life where there has been no problem.” Following the death of his mother Nargis, Sanjay Dutt found himself trapped in the web of alcohol and drug abuse. Belonging truly to Bollywood’s blue blood line, with both parents being exemplary actors and extraordinary human beings and philanthropists, turmoil overshadowed Sanjay’s life for years – where alcohol and drugs played his sole solace. Failing health and increasing agony were rested with addiction. In 1982, he was jailed for five months with charges of illegal possession of addictive substances. However, it was his mental strength that again triumphed victorious. After being sent to rehabilitation in Texas by father Sunil Dutt, Sanjay returned to normal life setting example for many who wage a hopeless war at battling addiction daily.

1993 Bombay Blasts

While a series of blasts jolted Bombay, it was shredding Sanjay Dutt’s life as well, haunting him till date. Briefly basking in the glories of his new found success with the most defining films of the 90s’ era like Sadak and Sajan, it was three weeks before the release of his film Khalnayak that he was taken in custody for his involvement in the Bombay Blast case.

With the excavations of the case procured by investigating officers, there was seen a clear link of Dutt with D-company and Abu Salem. Convicted on the grounds of possession of illegal weapons, he spent the next four years largely in jail. This case came back to haunt him from time to time.

Troubled At the Domestic Front

Rumor has it that Dutt started dating his Rocky co-star Tina Munim (now Tina Ambani). Entrapped in the fangs of substance abuse, the latter ended their short lived relationship. He finally found love with Richa Sharma whom he married in 1987. Soon after their marriage, the couple was blessed with a daughter they named Trishala. Their marital bliss was short lived, however. A decade into their marriage, Richa was diagnosed with brain tumor, to which she succumbed after a long ailment. Dutt trapped deep in controversies regarding his involvement in the 1993 Bombay Blast case, lost the custody of his daughter who moved off to live in the U.S with her grandparents.

Coming to terms with the loss of his wife and separated from his daughter, he risked a rebound relationship by marrying model and socialite Rhea Pillai in 1998, hoping to nurse his severed heart. They were married for a couple of years after which the couple officially separated and later divorced in 2008.

It was in 2008 that Dutt did the ‘I Do’ with his present wife Manyata amidst an array of rumors stretching from Manyata’s pregnancy with Dutt’s child to her alleged involvement with the underworld. The couple rather discreetly tied the knot in Goa without the presence of Dutt’s family, including his sisters he has always been immensely close to. The couple was blessed with twins in October, 2010 who were named Iqra and Shahraan.

Underworld connection

In 2001, media channels reported of an audio tape containing a conversation between Sanjay Dutt and Chota Shakeel, the dreaded underworld don. The incident did not have anything substantial and eventually fizzed out but it confirmed Sanjay’s proximity with the underworld which has from time to time to taint his reputation.

Sibling Rivalry

Though reports revere the Dutt family as an example of steady familial bonds, trouble arose in their kinship paradise when Sanjay Dutt decided to join the Samajwadi Party in 2009. Priya Dutt, a Congress MP went on record to criticize his brother’s decision mentioning their then deceased father’s loyalties towards Congress.

Sibling Rivalries in their family took another nasty turn when both the Dutt sisters weren’t present for the Sanjay-Manyata wedding. Media speculation reported the women’s obvious disapproval of Sanjay’s choice of partner, but all has been believed to have settled down well now.

Bad Luck at Politics

Sanjay Dutt was expected to contest the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. But his candidacy was rejected by the Supreme Court on grounds of his prior involvement in the 1993 Bombay Blasts Case following which the actor denounced politics for good.

Bollywood’s endearing MunnaBhai is stuck at a rather unfortunate place in life. Shackled by the rigid denominations of Indian Penal Code, he today filed a petition demanding review of the judgment meted out by the Supreme Court yesterday. Surrounded with troubled waters for most part of his life, we at KoiMoi sincerely hope for a speedy relief for Sanjay Dutt.