From Rocky to Rockstar

The upcoming biopic on Sanjay Dutt reveals his journey from a debutant  in cinema to a drug addict to a prisoner to a living legend who has always been loved by his fans
From Rocky to Rockstar

For the first time, director Rajkumar Hirani has taken the onus of directing a film on the life of a living legend like Sanjay Dutt. The biopic, Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal as Sunil Dutt and Dia Mirza as his current wife Manyata Dutt, reveals his journey from a debutant in the industry to a drug addict, to the women in his life, imprisonment and fans’ love for him.

While many are sceptical as to his life on celluloid, actor Paresh Rawal clears the air and says that the film is neither a preachy one nor it does propaganda. “Sanjay Dutt wants every youth of the country to watch the film so that they don’t take the path that he ventured into. It’s a lesson that he learnt the hard way, and he is trying to tell the youngsters not to fall into that trap,” Paresh says.  

Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor has already surprised the audiences with his look in the film. The actor, who has gone through a spate of flops in the past two years, says that he has never got so many reactions from the audience, as he is receiving for this film. “I know the film is a biopic on Sanjay Dutt but people have showered a lot of love on me after watching the trailer. It was a big challenge for me to live up to the expectations of people when I accepted to play the role. But they have accepted me.”

Dia Mirza questions, “Why not a film on Sanjay Dutt? I have worked with Sanjay Dutt earlier. But while doing the film, I realised that there’s much more to his life than what we have seen or heard.  One can make 10 more films on his life. He has literally lived his life to the fullest. We all are underdogs and we have had our crushing moments. We all had our share of struggles, but his life and his experiences were so different. His graph was so vast.” 

A still from the film
A still from the film

On playing Sunil Dutt in the film, Paresh says, “I have met Sunil Dutt two or three times in my career. I met him once when I was at his Ajanta recording studio. We exchanged pleasantries and spoke casually. Once I met him when my friend, who was suffering from cancer, needed help. He helped us with contacts in hospitals and medicines.”

Unlike Sanjay Dutt, his father Sunil Dutt did not have any style, says Paresh. “He was a normal man and the film is the story of a father and son so it’s alright to become Sunil Dutt without looking like him. He was an iron man in all adversities. There was so much to portray on the pain or conflicts that he went through as a husband when his wife was suffering from cancer or the struggle to save his son and lastly handling his political career,” adds Paresh, who was last seen in Tiger Zinda Hai.  

Ranbir says he was overwhelmed when Hirani offered him the role. “In the beginning, I was also sceptical and reacted as to how will it work? But once I read the script I was blown. It was safe because Rajkumar Hirani was going to direct it and it was a cushion for my emotions. I cannot be anything without a director. I had to have faith in myself that I would be able to pull it off. Once that happened, it was easy.” 

Ranbir, whose last film was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, says that he admires the guts that Sanjay Dutt had to openly talk about his life. “He has spoken about his girlfriends, his addiction, losing his mother to cancer and his jail life too. He said he is not God. But you need that confidence to open up. I don’t think I would ever have the kind of guts to talk so openly about my life.”

He reveals that he had met Sunil Dutt several times. “I was too young when he visited us. I don’t remember much about uncle but he loved me a lot. I have always been a Sanjay Dutt fan. I had heard many stories about his relationship with his father. Since both our fathers are actors, the relationship is similar. They keep a distance with their children, they are not friends and there’s fear and respect, which I could relate to.”

About working with Hirani, Paresh says he was waiting for an opportunity to work with him. “I was offered Boman Irani’s role in Munna Bhai MBBS earlier, but I couldn’t take it up due to date issues. When this role came up, I just jumped at it. It was a googly for me. Ranbir Kapoor is also one of the best actors we have today. He started off his career with films such as Rajneeti, Rocket Singh, Tamasha and Rockstar. He never cared for hits or flops nor was he launched as a star son. He has emoted so well and moreover he has imitated Sanjay Dutt’s voice. I wonder how he did it.”

Dia Mirza, who plays Sanjay Dutt’s wife Manyata Dutt in the film, says, “I have met Manyata socially and I don’t know her so well. I went completely by the script. I trust Rajkumar Hirani completely. I have worked with him in Lage Raho Munna Bhai earlier and it’s been more than 12 years, but he hasn’t changed. He belongs to glorious circumstances. He is so grounded and that reflects in his cinema. Ranbir on the other hand is like Buddha, centred and calm. He was the first to arrive on the sets and the last one to leave. I have never seen him getting irritated or angry.”

'Sanju' releases on June 29.

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The New Indian Express
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