Sanjay Dutt

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sanjay Dutt

• Sanjay Dutt is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Hindi films. From romance to comedy, he has appeared in almost every genre of films and has given some classic hits to Bollywood including Saajan (1991), Khalnayak (1993), and the Munna Bhai series.

• His mother Nargis used to call him “Chand.”

• His mother, Nargis, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she died on 2 May 1981, 5 days before the release of “Rocky,” which was Sanjay’s first film, Nargis wanted to see his son on the silver screen but unfortunately, she couldn’t.

  

• He started taking drugs when he was in high school.

• He changed the spelling of his name from “Sunjay” to “Sanjay” after his drug rehabilitation; as he wanted to start a new life with a new name.

• During an interview, he revealed that although he was very close to his mother, Nargis, he didn’t weep on her death. He also said that once his father, Sunil Dutt, sent him an audio record of Nargis (when she was not well and was struggling for her life), and when he played the audio, he wept for almost next 4-5 hours; remembering his deceased mother. In the audio, Nargis asked Sanjay to keep his natural instinct throughout his life and to never show off.

• He was listed among the leading Bollywood actors after the 1986 blockbuster film- Naam. His role in the film was critically praised, both by the audience and the critics. 

• He was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the first time in 1992 for the film- Saajan. 

• He was out of work for 4 years; after he was arrested in 1993 for his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai Serial Blasts. The rising stars of that time including Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar, showed their support for Sanjay Dutt. 

• The 1999 blockbuster film- Vaastav: The Reality received critical acclaims and his role was considered one of the best performances in his career.

• The character of Munna Bhai in the National Award-winning blockbuster film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), is considered the iconic role in his career. 

• He plays the guitar very well and has won the Gold medal for playing the guitar in a competition in the USA.

• His first wife, Richa Sharma, died due to Cancer in 1996.

• His younger sister, Namrata, is married to actor Kumar Gaurav.

• After the death of his first wife, Richa, Sanjay lost the custody of her daughter Trishala and thereafter, Trishala started living with her maternal grandparents in the United States.

• His third wife, Manyata’s real name is Dilnawaz Sheikh.

• His 2 children with Manyata (son Shahraan and daughter Iqra) are twins.

• An audio of a conversation between Sanjay Dutt and Chhota Shakeel also surfaced in the media, in which Sanjay Dutt was heard using abusive language.

• In the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, he was offered a ticket from the Samajwadi Party to contest the election. However, he withdrew when the court refused to suspend his conviction in the illegal possession of arms case.

• At the Yerwada Jail, he was allotted the prisoner number- 16656.

• During his stay at the Pune’s Yerwada Jail, he earned ₹38000 in 5 years of his jail term, and after having spent most of it on daily uses, he came out of jail with Rs. 450.

• In 2016, Rajkumar Hirani announced to make a biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s life and also took the first shot when Sanjay Dutt was released from the Yerwada Jail in February 2016.

• By 2018, it was confirmed that Ranbir Kapoor would play the role of Sanjay Dutt in his biopic titled “Sanju.”

• In the same year, news began circulating that a fan named Nisha Patil had transferred her property worth Rs. 72 crore to Sanjay before passing away. The actor, however, declined to accept the property.

• In August 2020, he was taken to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital after he complained of chest pain and breathlessness where he was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer; however, he tested negative for COVID-19. ^[2]The Times of India

• In June 2023, he acquired stakes in the Zim Afro T10 franchise Harare Hurricanes; T10 is considered the fastest format in cricket. On acquiring stakes in the franchise, Dutt said,
  

  Zimbabwe has a rich history in the sport and to associate with that and help fans have a great time is something that truly gives me joy.” ^[3]The Tribune

• Dutt is known for his smoking and drinking habits, and he is often spotted promoting these brands by appearing in surrogate advertisements.

• In June 2023, he invested in an alcobev startup called the Cartel & Bros that brought out a Scotch whiskey called ‘The Glenwalk.’

  

• In October 2024, he made headlines when a video of him in religious attire at a temple went viral. It was later revealed that these were from a ceremony where he renewed his marriage vows with his wife Maanayata Dutt after sixteen years of marriage.