Today is the 61st birthday of the Baba of Bollywood – Sanjay Dutt. The star started his acting career back in 1981 with his father, Sunil Dutt’s film Rocky. Since then Dutt has seen many highs and lows, both in his personal as well as professional life. But he’s overcome each obstacle with gusto. Sanjay Dutt’s roles as hero, villain, and comedian in films like Yalgaar, Thanedar, Agneepath stand testimony to the actor’s versatility. Dutt is remarkable in all he does and on his birthday, we’re here to celebrate some of his big screen outings.
Munna Bhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2003 and 2006)
Sanjay Dutt and Rajkumar Hirani are the most iconic actor-director duos of all time. In Munna Bhai M.B.B.S, Sanjay Dutt appeared with his father Sunil Dutt on-screen. He recollects sharing the ‘jaadu-ki-jhappi’ with him as a very emotional experience. Sanjay Dutt also spread ‘Gandhigiri’ among the youth with Lage Raho Munna Bhai. His special role in Hirani’s Aamir Khan-starrer PK was also much appreciated.
Mission Kashmir (2000)
Mission Kashmir stars Sanjay Dutt in the role of a Police Superintendent in Kashmir. Dutt displays the unease of being caught between violence and compassion. He brings feelings of love, guilt, revenge with much finesse. Mission Kashmir also stars Hrithik Roshan as Sanjay Dutt’s adopted son.
Vaastav: The Reality (1999)
Vaastav is the story of Raghu (Sanjay Dutt) who gets embroiled in a conflict unknowingly and has to live a life of consequences. Dutt instills a sense of sympathy by bringing in the distress and tension of the character to the screen. Unable to carry on a life like this, he’s given a new life through death.
Naam (1986)
Sanjay Dutt’s performance as ‘Vicky’ in Naam is said to be career-altering for him. Dutt as ‘Vicky’ attempting at a clean and better life in Dubai, gets embroiled in fraudulence and smuggling, which leads to his ultimate doom.
Saajan (1991)
Sanjay Dutt portrays the role of a differently-abled ‘Aman’ who writes poetry under the pen name ‘Sagar’. Born into poverty but raised by a well-off family, Aman loves his adopted family unconditionally – enough to sacrifice his love for Pooja (Madhuri Dixit) for Akash (Salman Khan). Dutt deviates much from his usual aggressive roles in this film and he pulls it off perfectly.
Khalnayak (1993)
Sanjay Dutt was christened as the ‘Khalnayak of Bollywood’ post this film. Dutt plays a gangster opposite Madhuri Dixit who plays an undercover agent. Dutt brings out the humane side in Ballu with all his goods and bads. Sanjay Dutt received the Filmfare for Best Actor for this film.
Zinda (2006)
Sanjay Dutt is back in his element in this movie. He as ‘Bala’ seeks revenge for his unjust incarceration. What unfolds is the story of his own past that had been buried. Dutt is both the hero and the devil.
We wish Sanjay Dutt an amazing birthday!
(Contributed by Deblina Munshi)