‘Rocky’ To ‘Policegiri’ – Happy Birthday Sanjay Dutt

MUMBAI: A ‘rollercoaster’ is the perhaps one of the best way to describe Sanjay Dutt’s journey in Bollywood. Having acted in over 100 films, Sanjay Dutt has played varied roles from comedy roles to serious ones. From a child artiste in ‘Reshma Aur Shera’ as a qawalli singer to ‘Policegiri’, Dutt’s journey has been with heavy share of speed-breakers.

It is a moment of mixed emotions as Sanjay Dutt brings in his 54th birthday in jail. While fans and well-wishers pour their messages to Sanjay Dutt, thanks to the ‘Write 2 Sanjay’ initiative, celebrations otherwise are pretty low-key.

From the industry, Ranbir Kapoor, Raju Hirani and Bunty Walia have sent messages to Dutt in jail. But one eagerly awaits what special, wife Manyata Dutt is going to do?

It isn’t easy to achieve stardom coming straight out of a drug rehabilitation centre, but Sanjay Dutt defied all odds and became the biggest superstar in Bollywood. With star parents, Sunil Dutt and Nargis it was but obvious that the lad would take up to acting.

With wishes pouring in and blessings showered on Sanju Baba, it will light up his day. But it’s pretty certain that his fans will be deeply singing inside, “Jeeye Toh Jeeye Kaise, Bin Aapke.”

Happy Birthday, Sanjay Dutt. Here’s wishing you good health and peace.

‘Rocky’ was the first film featuring a young Sanjay Dutt. Can we ever forget ‘Aa Dekhe Zara Kisme Kitna Hai Dum !!’

‘Naam’ directed by Mahesh Bhatt was supposed to be the re-launch for Kumar Gaurav, But it was Sanjay Dutt’s deadly act as the drug peddler which was his claim to stardom. A glimpse of his own reality?

Sanjay Dutt shaking a leg for the first time. We still groove to Tama Tama Loge! Don’t We? And it was the beginning of a new personal chapter. Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit – the much talked about pair in B-Town. 

‘Sadak’ had another power-packed performance from Sanjay Dutt as the taxi driver. It is remembered even today for the ‘eunuch’ act by Sadashiv Amrapurkar. 

‘Saajan’ featuring Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan was another hallmark in Sanjay’s career. Not many at the peak of their stardom will like to play a handicapped poet. But Sanjay Dutt played it convincingly.

Nayak nahi ‘Khalnayak’ hoon main. The birth of the anti-hero, Sanjay Dutt.

Sanjay Dutt’s first association with director Sanjay Gupta. ‘Aatish’, had Sanjay play the character of Baba. It till date is synonymous with his name.

A series of flops – ‘Jai Vikranta’, ‘Vijeta’, ‘Daud’ almost faded his career, until his role as a blind army officer in Tanuja Chandra’s ‘Dushman’ took his career to a new high.

‘Haseena Maan Jayegi’  (1999) – A film that brought the association between Govinda and Sanjay Dutt. ‘Jodi No 1,’ ‘Ek Aur Ek Gyarah’ followed. But Govinda and Sanju baba never failed to entertain. The best was yet to come!

The same year (1999) saw Sanjay Dutt play gangster in Mahesh Manjrekar’s cult classic ‘Vaastav’. It won the actor his first ‘Best Actor’ award and his second innings in Bollywood just got better.

‘Mission Kashmir’ released the same day as ‘Mohabbatein’. The film tanked, but Sanjay Dutt’s cop act was hugely admired. And he played father to Hrithik Roshan. 

With Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Dutt is there a dull moment. Guns, girls and a bank robbery ‘Kaante’ had it all. Our desi version of ‘Reservoir Dogs’. 

The poster reads – “He might just cure you.” Sanjay Dutt indeed cured people from all tensions. Life was a jolly ride when ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S’ released. how about a ‘jaadoo ki jhappi’ to Sanjay Dutt on his birthday?

In spite of his career rising, Sanjay Dutt never shied away from experimentation. But films like ‘Rudraksh’, ‘Rakht’, ‘Annarth’, ‘Hatyar’ – the less said the better. We missed Sanjay Dutt, the actor, the dude. 

‘Musafir’ – Billa bhai a.k.a Sanjay Dutt. ‘Tezz Dhaar’ in Sanjay Dutt’s voice. Rustic-Rough and brash, that was Sanjay Dutt for you!

Probably one of Sanjay Dutt’s most under-rated performances. ‘Parineeta’. While Vidya Balan stole limelight, one can never forget the restrained actor in Sanjay Dutt. A huge change from what his image was. Applause. 

The last time the Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gupta association was shared. ‘Zinda’ a re-make of  ’Old Boy’ (Korean). The film bombed hugely, but will Sanjay Dutt ever disappoint his fans? 

‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ another feather in Sanjay Dutt’s illustrious career. No one better than Sanjay Dutt can give us lessons in Gandhigiri!!!

If ‘Dhamaal’ was a great film, there wasn’t anything to look forward in ‘Double Dhamaal’.  Even Sanjay Dutt’s performance couldn’t hold this bland film. 

Kaancha Cheena – The bad man was back with a BANG!!! Bald was good, so was Sanjay Dutt with his deadly act as the villain after ages. 

‘Son Of Sardaar’ – With Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt it meant huge box-office success. ’100 crore’ club. Sanjay Dutt in his haryanvi avtaar was too good as the sardaar himself. 

After Gandhigiri, it was ‘Policegiri’ for Sanjay Dutt. A testing time for Sanjay Dutt as he completed his pending films. We will see him in ‘Ungli’, ‘Zanjeer’ and good friend Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘P.K’. But ‘Policegiri’ – was his last solo release. It’s a long wait until we see the star back in action again. With him not around, will his movies make an impact? Not quite really. Happy Birthday, Sanjay Dutt!