When he strides into the lobby of Imperial Heights, the famed Sanjay Dutt abode in Pali Hill, the sizable room is dwarfed by the actor’s towering persona. His fleeting smile is replaced by wrinkles of concern as he gives elaborate directions to someone over the phone and then apologises for being distracted. The 56-year-old actor is back in the game with Omung Kumar's Bhoomi , his first film after being released from prison over a year ago.
Then and now
Dutt may be associated with many controversies but he’s a man of few words, except when it comes to his fight against drug addiction. Since he is set to turn over a new leaf, we decide to avoid questions about his overexposed past. The actor’s life would, anyhow, be bared, warts and all, with the upcoming biopic written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. “My life is transparent, an extension of my honesty,” says Dutt. “I have nothing to hide. The film is quite factual, as far as I know. I cried while reading the script.”
When it comes to the evolution of filmmaking today, Dutt is quick to give credit to the growing professionalism in the industry. He admires the way good films are being made with low budgets. Dutt admits that the changes are both good and bad, but immediately withdraws the latter to soften his response. “Promotions are a big part of films today,” he says. “For an actor like me from the 80s, all this is new. It’s different. We didn’t have ₹100 and ₹200-crore clubs. But there’s a lot to appreciate like how some people are doing one film at a time.” There’s also an overwhelming nostalgia for the past. “I remember how Bhatt sahab and all of us got together and worked on the script of Naam ,” he recollects.
After his release from jail, Dutt has been too preoccupied with family to keep track of new filmmakers or the latest films, with one exception — Dangal . “If you ask me what kind of roles I want to do, I would say, like this one,” he says talking about Aamir Khan’s portrayal of Mahavir Phogat. “ Dangal inspired me. I cannot do what kids like Sidharth [Malhotra] and Varun [Dhawan] are doing. I have to play my age. I am playing the role of a father in Bhoomi . It’s a heartfelt film. I want to do more of those. I will be choosy. My roles have to be mature.”
On the horizon
There’s one filmmaker on Dutt’s list that he is enthusiastic about checking off — Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “I want to work with passionate filmmakers like him,” he says before rattling off the names of his projects in the pipeline. “ Todbaaz with Girish Mallik about the rehabilitation of Fidayeens through cricket is a family watch. Sadak2 is in the talks. Munnabhai 3, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster 3 …”
He reacts with a faraway gaze when we ask him if indie films fit into his future plans. Dutt does not mince any words when he reveals his resolution to stick to commercial cinema. “I don’t want to do offbeat films. I only want to reach out with entertaining movies. Main mainstream aadmi hun (I am a mainstream man).”
Beyond films, Dutt seems to be gripped by the zeal to take up social work projects. “I want to give back to society,” he says repeatedly. He believes that the best way to make up for the lost time is to dive head first in his initiative called Drug Free India. “The future generation must learn from my mistakes and know how bad drug addiction is.” He joins his hands in reverence as he goes on to commend spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s collaboration with regard to his anti-drug campaign aimed at the youth.
Family, films and philanthropy will fill his life this year but he is also excited about the creative possibilities of the digital world. There’s finally a spark of excitement in his eyes when he confirms, “Digital maane Netflix and all that, right? Yes. Yes. I have ideas. We are working on a few.” So be it!
