It's rare to see actor Sanjay Dutt make public appearances. But when Sanju Baba, as he is fondly called by not just Bollywood but also by his fans, steps out, he is sure to cause traffic jams. Sporting a black T-shirt with graphic prints and faded ripped denims, Sanjay with his salt-and-pepper look and an overgrown beard, looked charming as ever. It’s been over two years since the actor was released from the Yerawada Central Jail after serving a sentence of nearly four years. After his release, he has acted in Bhoomi, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, and did a special appearance in a song in Sanju, a biopic on him.
Today, at 59, after all that life has thrown at him, Sanjay Dutt seems to have accepted everything, and looks like he has mastered the art of zen. Despite the tumultuous crowd jostling to get a glimpse of their favourite star, and his fans nudging each other to get a selfie, Sanju remained unfazed, smiling and obliging for pictures.
Baby steps
When asked him about his fitness mantra, the actor confesses, “I haven’t worked out for two years. Hopefully, I will start soon. But I believe, there is no age for fitness. Fitness is one of the most important things in life. Going to the gym every day is the best thing for me. A good diet is also a must.”
Even when he was completing his sentence at Yerawada, the actor who was let out on parole a few times, had lost a lot of weight, and had remarked, “I have lost 18 kgs. Now if I lose anymore weight, I will vanish.” This was in 2014, but today, Sanju seems like he understands what his body requires and is working towards achieving a fitter self, he says, “Diet has to be strict and controlled, it depends on your body type.” He says, a low-carb, high protein diet, without salt and no sugar is what works very well. “Doing cardio is very important. But working on legs is equally very important because your legs are like the trunk of a tree, if the legs are not worked on then your upper body can’t be supported,” he says, adding further, “My inspiration is Sylvester Stallone.”
Currently shooting for the Telugu remake of Prassthanam, Sanju will also be seen in Sadak 2 and Kalank which will release in 2019 and he is also part of Ashutosh Gowariker's Panipat. In fact, his co-actor from Prassthanam, Ali Fazal, has been very vocal about his admiration for the senior actor. To this Sanju reacted, by saying, “I am more of a friend to my co-actors. I like to make them feel comfortable and wanted. If the younger actors have any questions, then I will surely answer and guide them.”
Family first
Despite being busy with multiple films at the same time, the actor seems to ensure he never misses out on his family time, which he considers to be his ‘me time’ now. His pictures with wife Maanayata Dutt and children, Iqra and Shahraan Dutt on Twitter and Instagram are evident of how they are his priority. “I had a lot of ‘me time’ for four years (refers to his time spent at Yerawada). Now, I like to spend time with my family. I particularly try to spend a lot of time with my children,” says the doting dad.
Now that he is back with so many projects and upcoming films, would there be a possibility of working with the other Sanjay, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta who cast him in maximum number of films and Sanju offers, “I don’t know about that, but yes, if something comes up and things work out, I will be keen on working with him.”
ayeshatabassum@ newindianexpress.com
@aishatax