Sunil Dutt Recalls Seeking Bal Thackeray's Assistance During Sanjay Dutt's Arrest
As Sanjay Dutt remains one of Bollywood's most talked-about stars, discussions about his turbulent phase during the 1993 Mumbai blasts case continue to resurface. In a recently resurfaced appearance on Rajat Sharma's show 'Aap Ki Adalat', veteran actor and politician Sunil Dutt candidly spoke about seeking help from Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray when his son was arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Arms Act.
Why Sunil Dutt Approached Bal Thackeray
During the interview, Sunil Dutt explained that actor Rajendra Kumar had advised him to meet Bal Thackeray. He noted, 'Bal Thackeray ji is my old friend. I have known him since before I entered politics. He respects me and I respect him.' Dutt emphasized that approaching Thackeray was a practical decision because the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance governed Maharashtra at that time, and Thackeray held significant influence in the state government. He elaborated, 'At that time, it was his government. And you may remember, he himself used to say that the remote control was with him. If somebody has the key and the remote control, naturally a person will go to him.'
Drawing a comparison, Dutt stated, 'If my son is sick, I will take him to a doctor. If there is a political problem, I will go to a politician. That is the reason.'
No Compromise on Principles
When host Rajat Sharma questioned whether seeking help from Bal Thackeray meant compromising his principles, especially since Dutt had always opposed communal politics, the veteran actor strongly denied it. 'No, absolutely not. Had I joined Shiv Sena because they helped my son, then it would have been compromising my principles,' he responded. Dutt pointed out that he later contested elections against Shiv Sena candidates twice, proving there was no political deal. He added, 'He never told me not to contest elections or put any condition before me. Small-minded people think like that. Bal Thackeray was not like that.'
Sanjay Dutt's Troubled Phase
In the same interview, Sunil Dutt spoke emotionally about Sanjay Dutt's difficult teenage years, drug addiction, and the trauma of losing his mother Nargis just days before the release of his debut film 'Rocky' in 1981. He admitted, 'He was very close to his mother and she was very close to him. He could not handle her death.' Recalling the heartbreaking days before Nargis' passing, Dutt revealed that she desperately wanted to attend Sanjay's film premiere despite her deteriorating health. 'She kept saying, 'I will definitely go and watch my son's premiere.' We had arranged an ambulance, wheelchair and everything. But she passed away on May 3, while the premiere was on May 7,' he recalled. Dutt added that Sanjay was emotionally shattered and conflicted, not knowing whether to cry or celebrate because his first film had released.
Sunil Dutt on Underworld Links
Addressing perceptions about Sanjay Dutt's alleged underworld connections, Sunil Dutt candidly admitted that he himself knew several underworld figures socially, like many people in the film industry at the time. 'Why should I lie? Mastan was a very good friend of mine. Karim Lala was also my friend,' he said. However, he clarified the difference between social interaction and criminal involvement: 'If an artist starts helping them in smuggling or crime, then that is wrong. But film people used to meet everyone socially. They attended film parties too.'
This resurfaced interview provides a deeper insight into the personal struggles and political decisions of one of Bollywood's most iconic families.
