Sanjay Dutt

Date of Birth : 29 Jul 1959

Place of Birth : India

Biography :

Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Bollywood film actor. A two time Filmfare Awards winner, he is the son of Bollywood stars Sunil Dutt and Nargis. Sanjay Dutt was born to one of Bollywood's most well-known star couples, Nargis Dutt and Sunil Dutt. He has two sisters, riya Dutt and Namrata Dutt (Anju). He was educated at the Lawrence School Sanawar. At the age of 12 he made his first film appearance in his father's film Reshma Aur Shera where he had a small role as a qawwali singer.Sanjay Dutt acted in several successful films in the 1980s, including Vidhaata (1982), Naam (1986), and Hathyar (1989). He was reportedly director Subhash Ghai's first choice to play the lead in Hero (1983). Sanjay Dutt married Richa Sharma in 1987 (a small-time actress discovered by Dev Anand for his film 'Hum Naujawan') who had nursed him back from a lung injury. A year later, the couple had a baby girl, Trishala. Just two months after Trishala's birth, Richa was diagnosed with cancer and the couple separated. Sanjay Dutt resurrected his cinema career with movies like Sadak (1991) and Saajan (1991). He received his first Filmfare nomination for the best actor in a lead role, for the film Saajan. His breakthrough role came in Subhash Ghai's Khalnayak (1993), which became a huge hit and gave his career a boost. He received a filmfare nomination for the film.The release of Khalnayak (1993) happened to coincide with Sanjay Dutt's arrest in connection with the 1993 Mumbai Bombings. He was charged of illegal possession of arms and ammunition and illegal deals, which were allegedly part of the consignment used in the bombings.Sanjay Dutt acknowledged that he personally knew the other accused, but denied the charges that he was involved with the larger conspiracy. He was arrested on 19 April 1993 (about a month after the blasts) and spent more than 18 months in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, before being released on bail.During this time, he received considerable support from the Indian Film Industry, as well as his fans.Once he was released from jail, Sanjay Dutt married Rhea Pillai. Dutt won himself a fan following with a variety of roles, including gangster and comic roles. He was noted for his performances in several films including Vaastav (1999), Mission Kashmir (2000), Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003). He also set up a production company with director Sanjay Gupta. The company, called White Feather Films, produced several films, including Kaante (2002), Musafir (2004) Zinda (2005) and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007).Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) earned Sanjay Dutt rave reviews. His next release, Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), also did very well. His Latest Release Dhamaal,also did well. Sanjay Dutt and Rhea Pillai divorced in 2005, after spending the last few years of their marriage apart. Rhea later married tennis player Leander Paes. Sanjay Dutt's father, Sunil Dutt, an active politician, also died in May 2005.On 28 November 2006, a special TADA court found actor Sanjay Dutt guilty under the Arms Act of possessing an illegal weapon. Dutt had acknowledged possession of the weapon and had argued that he had obtained it to protect his family during communalriots.Sanjay Dutt was on bail for more than 12 years earning enough to make provisions for his family in case of a jail sentence. Altekar also argued that Dutt was mature enough at the time of buying illegal weapons, and did not deserve a reduced jail term. Though the intervener application filed by Altekar was eventually rejected by the court, it nevertheless raised doubt against of prosecution, the State Government of Maharashtra and the Indian Judiciary.Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to 6 years rigorous imprisonment on 31 July 2007 by judge P.D.Kode. His aide Rusi Mulla, however, was awarded probation and is under observation for one year. The media reported that Sanjay Dutt's arrest put Rs. 1.5 billion of Bollywood business at stake. Sanjay Dutt was also fined Rs. 25,000 and his probation plea was rejected. The actor, who had hoped to be freed under the Probation of Offenders Act, said with folded hands: “Sir, I made a mistake 14 years ago. Please give me some time to surrender." But the judge rejected the plea. On August 2, 2007, Sanjay Dutt was moved from Arthur Road jail in Mumbai to the Yerwada Jail in Pune. Some journalists have noted that in 1922, Mahatma Gandhi was also sent to Yerwada Jail (in reference to Dutt's role as Munna Bhai in Lage Raho Munna Bhai which led to the popularization of the term Gandhigiri in India ).On August 20, 2007, the Supreme Court of India granted him interim bail.He will be released after Yerawada jail authorities get a copy of the court's bail order. The bail is valid till the time the special TADA court, which sentenced Dutt on July 31, provides a copy of its judgment to him. Sanjay Dutt was released from jail on August 23 and reached his home in Mumbai on the same day. On 27th November 2007 Sanjay Dutt has been granted bail by the Supreme Court.