Reel vs real: The politics behind the life and crimes of Sanjay Dutt

When a film about a public figure is made, many questions relating to the accuracy or inaccuracy of portrayals arise. In a vibrant democracy, multiple truths often jostle with each other, so that we can determine for ourselves which one (or ones) we prefer. We must also ponder if any biographical film, condensing a life into two-and-a-half hours, takes certain departures from reality. In this sense, Sanju, a biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt is no exception.

In a particular scene in Sanju, Dutt is seen playing court to a political figure in Delhi, months after he was charged with the crime of possessing an AK-56 rifle and hobnobbing with those suspected of carrying out the bomb blasts in Bombay (now Mumbai) on March 12, 1993. The politician in the movie is rather indifferent and dismissive of Dutt’s plea.

In real life, it was actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt who had indeed courted a political figure. He had once informally told a gathering of journalists – including the author – that he had approached Sharad Pawar, who became chief minister of Maharashtra soon after the bomb blasts, begging for leniency for his son. Sunil Dutt recalled bowing before Pawar, tears rolling down his cheeks, when he noticed that the politician was faintly smiling, enjoying his ordeal. Stunned and disillusioned, Sunil Dutt subsequently met Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, who eventually came out in support of Sanjay Dutt, declaring publicly he did not believe that any member of the Dutt family could be ‘anti-national’.

Sanju review: An unconvincing biopic but another good Rajkumar Hirani film

Sanju Review is writer, editor, director, Rajkumar Hirani’s fifth feature film and in four of these films, Abhijat Joshi has partnered him in writing the screenplay of the film. In one of their interviews, Hirani explained that they approached each scene with the LCD principle. A scene either ought to make you laugh, cry or should be dramatic enough for you to feel engaged with it. One could say that it is this principle and his editing skills which have made all his films special. They have been tightly scripted entertainers which have then found acceptance with the masses too.

Sanju, his latest and promoted as a biopic based on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt (star of Hirani’s first two films as director) continues this tradition of adhering to the LCD principle and starts off on a dramatic note and then continues to weave laughter, tears and drama through its 161-minute journey.

Sanjay Dutt has had a remarkably newsy and controversial life and it does make for an interesting story on its own. From his days as a drug addict to his time in jail after the Bombay blasts in 1993, to his recurring brushes with the underworld and then the long drawn court case, Dutt’s story makes for an arresting topic. While the world may have judged him differently, the film industry seems to dismiss all allegations against ‘Sanju Baba’ with a gentle wave of the hand and the movie Sanju seems no different.