The law caught up with Sanjay Dutt but the timing was horribly wrong. He was sentenced to 6 years of rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine. A decade ago, he was the ‘Khalnayak’ who caught the imagination of the media, a skirt-chasing-long-hair poster boy who seemingly cared less about societal norms while stacking guns at his home. Today Sanju baba is Munnabhai who preaches non-violence – the darling of the masses, the mellowed middle-aged actor who’s a class apart from his Page 3 rivals, if he has any. The film industry stood firmly behind him this time than before – Ravi Chopra cancelling the premiere of his colourful saga ‘Naya Daur’ and co-stars writing odes on his character in the press. He might not be in the same class as his father, but Sanju is the hero of the common man.
The real jail isn’t going to be easy for an actor of reel life. He’ll appeal in the Supreme Court and cross his fingers tight for a reprieve from the judgement. With over 100 crore INR running on him, even the film fraternity would want him out quickly. Let’s hope and pray things turn out well and we are able to see another sequel of Munnabhai.
