Sanjay Dutt still a force reckon with @65

July 29 marks the birthday of Sanjay Dutt who turns 65 today. A superstar in the truest sense, he has been an integral part of the film indu...

July 29 marks the birthday of Sanjay Dutt who turns 65 today. A superstar in the truest sense, he has been an integral part of the film industry for nearly 45 years now and still going strong. Loved by the masses and adored by the South Indian film fraternity, Sanjay is a true pan-India star. Apart from Hindi, he has appeared in Marathi (Nidaan), Tamil (Leo), and Kannada (KGF 2) films as well  where his forthcoming films in other languages include Double iSmart (Telugu)) and Sheran di Kaum Punjabi (Punjabi).

Battling drug addiction and emerging a winner, serving a jail sentence and getting acquitted, and now overcoming lung cancer, Sanju is a true fighter. He has risen from the ashes against all odds and commands a massive fan following. He has excelled as a hero, a comic, and a villain. His popularity has remained intact and not ebbed at all.

Despite being known for classics like Naam (1986), Hathyar (1989), Sadak (1991), Saajan (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Vaastav (1999), Munnabhai MBBS (2003), Kaante (2002), Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) & Agneepath (2012), let us now go into flashback mode to the 1980s from where Sanju Baba, as he is fondly called, began his film journey as a leading man and look at some of his films that made him what he is today.

Rocky (1981): Directed by Sunil Dutt, Rocky (then spelt Sunjay Dutt) grows up to take revenge on the person who had murdered his father (Sunil Dutt in a cameo) and made it look like an accident. There are some parallel stories also of Heerabai (Reena Roy) and Renu (Tina Munim). Music by RD Burman (gems like Kya Yahi Pyar Hai, Aa Dekhen Zara, Rocky Nera Naam, Aao Mere Yaaro Aao, Hum Tumse Mile) and Sanju’s daredevil motorcycle stunts done by himself along with his trademark gawky walk and droopy eyes made the film a silver jubilee at the BO thus heralding the advent of Dutt junior.

Vidhaata (1982): This Subhash Ghai directorial venture pitted Sunjay Dutt as Kunal against the thespian Dilip Kumar who played his grandfather Shamsher, the formidable Sanjeev Kumar who was Kunal’s loving Abu Baba, and an absolutely adorable Shammi Kapoor as Gurbaksh, the best friend of Shamsher. That Dutt could hold his own against these greats speaks volumes of his credibility as an actor. The film was a blockbuster.

Main Awara Hoon (1983): A Shakti Samanta production directed by his son Ashim, this Gulshan Nanda story is about a misunderstood vagabond (Awara) Sanjeev / Sanju, and his educated elder brother Rajeev / Raju played by Raj Babbar who do not get along and separate. But it is Sanju who sacrifices his life to save his brother. Though the film did not do well, it made sure the audience took notice of Sunjay’s acting. 

Jaan Ki Baazi (1985): After Sanjay’s full drug rehabilitation, action director Pappu Verma re-launched Sanjay Dutt in a double role in this Ajay Kashyap (erstwhile assistant to Narinder Bedi) directorial debut. The film tells the story of a wronged woman Geeta (Anita Raj) who joins hands with a police officer Amar (Sanjay Dutt), whom she later marries, to get justice for her father. When Amar is killed, she meets Laxman (Sanjay Dutt), a lookalike of Amar to help her in her quest for justice. The film made Sanjay Dutt an action star to reckon with. The film was also featured as one of the top films that year.

Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987): This Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest inspiration was adapted by director Jyotin Goel where a super salesman Kamal Malhotra (Sanjay Dutt) was mistaken for a CBI officer Kamal Malhotra (Meenakshi Sheshadri) because of their similar names. With some RD Burman nuggets like Jaane Bhi Do Yaar, Chand Koi Hoga and Jo Chham Se Nikal Gayi Haath made for a delightful watch. This film showcased Sanju’s flair for comedy. 

Kabzaa (1988): Mahesh Bhatt’s answer to Marlon Brando’s On The Waterfront (1954), this gem of a movie showed why the Bhatt-Dutt combo after Naam (1986) was a force to reckon with (they followed this film up with Sadak, Gumrah, Kartoos - all hits and the inexcusable Sadak 2). Ravi (Dutt) works for Veljibhai (a brilliant Paresh Rawal) who makes him do illegal jobs. One such job was to get the house of Ali Mohammed (a superb Aloknath) vacated for a politician (Nilu Phule). But Ravi gets inspired by Ali and decides to change his ways and protect the land of Ali Mohammed. The film also had a much-appreciated Raj Babbar as Ranjeet Verma, the elder brother of Ravi. This film was remade as Ghulam (1988) starring Aamir Khan.

Kolkata Konnect wishes Sanjay Dutt a very happy birthday.