Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has broken his long-standing silence regarding his imprisonment, offering a candid and detailed account of the challenging five-year period he spent behind bars. In a recent interview, Dutt revisited the legal saga that began in 1993 and questioned the basis of his conviction under the Arms Act.
A Conviction Questioned: The Missing Weapon
Speaking on The Himanshu Mehta Show, Sanjay Dutt directly addressed the circumstances that led to his incarceration. He reflected on the turbulent period following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1993, citing threats to his family's safety. The actor made a striking claim, stating he was convicted in the Arms Act case "without them ever finding a gun."
"My father was being threatened, my sisters were being threatened," Dutt recounted. "They said I had a gun, but they couldn't prove it. So I don't know what it was that actually put me inside there." He expressed frustration over the timeline of his case, emphasizing that it took the authorities 25 years to clarify he was not involved in the TADA Act or the bomb blast case, only to be convicted finally under the Arms Act.
Finding Dignity and Purpose Behind Bars
Despite the ordeal, Sanjay Dutt chose to frame his prison term as a profound learning experience. He dedicated his time to intense study and spiritual practice. The actor revealed he read extensively on law, transforming himself into a quasi-legal expert to understand his own case better.
"I learned the laws of the land. I learned to be a prosecutor, I learned to be a defence lawyer. I faced my jail time with dignity," he stated. His spiritual journey included reading sacred texts like the Shiv Puran, Ganesh Puran, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. Prayer, chanting, and meditation became his daily rituals, helping him maintain hope.
Dutt's primary plea to the judges and prosecutors was to expedite the judicial process. "I have seen so many people just languishing there in jail," he said, highlighting the plight of undertrials.
Creative Rehabilitation: Radio, Theatre, and Work
Sanjay Dutt did not let his confinement stifle his creativity or work ethic. In earlier appearances, like on The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show, he shared how he stayed productive. He earned wages by making chairs and paper bags, and even started an internal prison radio station named Radio YCP.
"We had topics to talk about, and we also did some comedy. Three or four other prisoners would write the script for the program," Dutt explained. Furthermore, he channeled his filmmaking instincts by starting a theatre group inside the prison, directing murder convicts who became his actors.
Sanjay Dutt was ultimately released in 2016 after serving his sentence, with multiple bail periods during the legal process. His life story, including this difficult chapter, was later depicted in the 2018 biopic Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Rajkumar Hirani.
