Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, a figure often surrounded by controversy and admiration, has been described in a new light by a veteran member of the paparazzi. Senior photographer Varinder Chawla recently shared candid anecdotes that paint a picture of Dutt's complex personality, oscillating between forceful camaraderie and unexpected kindness.
The Unrefusable Drink: Dutt's Forceful Hospitality
In a revealing conversation, Chawla recounted the times when Sanjay Dutt, affectionately called 'Baba', would insist that photographers join him for a drink. "Many times, Baba would call us over during his shoots and ask, 'Oye, idhar aa… do you drink?'" Chawla stated. If the photographers declined, citing work, Dutt would not take no for an answer.
He would insist, claiming he felt they did drink, with others around him backing up his assertion. "He would then force us to drink with him. We had no choice," Chawla laughed, adding that Dutt's stature was such that even non-drinkers felt compelled to sit and sip with him. These impromptu sessions often happened outside the actor's house, blurring the lines between the star and the photographers documenting his life.
The Act of a Messiah: When Dutt Saved a Photographer
Contrasting this forceful image, Chawla also recalled an incident where Sanjay Dutt emerged as his saviour. Early in his career, Chawla owned a second-hand Maruti Zen. While leaving a shoot at Filmistan after taking Dutt's pictures, he accidentally reversed into the actor's vanity van.
Dutt's team immediately surrounded Chawla, demanding compensation for damages that far exceeded the value of his own car. Fearing a physical altercation, Chawla was terrified. At that critical moment, Sanjay Dutt himself came down to assess the situation.
"I told him I had hit his van," Chawla said. Dutt's response was simple yet powerful. He turned to his agitated team and said, "Let him go." For Chawla, that act of grace was monumental. "At that moment, he felt like my messiah. He has always been a very chill guy," the photographer recalled with gratitude.
A Life of Headlines: The Backdrop of Dutt's Legacy
These personal stories unfold against the backdrop of Sanjay Dutt's tumultuous public life. His career has been punctuated by serious legal battles, most notably his arrest and conviction in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case for illegal possession of firearms, including an AK-56 rifle.
Although acquitted of conspiracy charges, Dutt served a full five-year sentence, released in 2016. His struggles with addiction and alleged underworld links have also been widely documented. Yet, his public image received a sympathetic treatment in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer biopic 'Sanju', which portrayed him as a misunderstood man.
The anecdotes from the paparazzi frontline suggest that this perception of a kind-hearted, albeit flawed, individual persists among those who have interacted with him closely, revealing the multifaceted nature of one of Bollywood's most enduring stars.
