Sanjay Dutt, surrounded by supporters, hugs his sister Namrata as Priya Dutt (MP) looks on while leaving from his residence for the TADA court in Mumbai on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Mumbai, July 31
From his drug addiction days to his involvement in the 1993 bomb blasts case, in which he has been sentenced to six-year RI, Sanjay Dutt has always been the favourite son of controversies.

The 1993 serial bomb blasts case, considered as the longest trial in the country, drew to a close with the actor being awarded a sentence of six years of rigorous imprisonment by a Tada Court for possessing illegal weapons under the Arms Act.

Born on July 29, 1959, to legendary stars the late Nargis and Sunil Dutt, he had a turbulent life with the actor getting addicted to drugs during the last days of his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer.

Again, his marriage to Richa Sharma was an equally turbulent affair, with the actress dying due to cancer during his initial 16 months imprisonment in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

He made his debut in 1981 in 'Rocky' with Tina Munim, but critics were not very kind to him then. Despite his turbulent life, he succeeded as an actor and continued to stay afloat with films like Mahesh Bhatt's 'Naam', 'Sadak', 'Saajan', 'Khalnayak' and 'Mission Kashmir' among others.

Dutt has been in news right from his drug de-addiction days and also later following his marriage to air hostess-turned-model Rhea Pillai, and his subsequent involvement with lesser known actress Manyata (Dilnawaz Shaikh).

A month after the 1993 deadly serial blasts, his friends, Samir Hingora and Yusuf Nulwala, squealed on Dutt and he was arrested on April 19, 1993, while returning from Mauritius. On May 5, 1993, he was granted an interim bail by the trial court with several conditions.

The actor had sought the bail as he had to complete his films.

On July 4, 1994, after completion of films, the interim bail was cancelled. On July 22, 1995, he was granted special permission to visit ailing girlfriend Rhea Pillai. On September 11, 1995, he moved another bail to go abroad, but it was rejected by the designated TADA court.

On October 16, 1995, he finally managed to get bail from the Supreme Court. On October 18, he was released from the Arthur Road Jail after the receipt of orders from the Supreme Court and finally, on November 28, 2006, he was absolved of serious charges under TADA, but his conviction under the Arms Act stayed.

After being down and out for over half a decade, he rose like a phoenix from the ashes to win his first Filmfare award for the Mahesh Manjrekar flick 'Vaastav', which was touted as his comeback vehicle. Since then, he has given consistent hits like 'Haseena Maan Jayegi', 'Khubsoorat' and 'Daag the Fire' to name a few. He struck gold with his recent smash hits 'Lage Raho Munnbhai' and 'Munnabhai MBBS' not to mention 'Parineeta', 'Eklavya', and 'Kaante'. A sequel to 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' is on the anvil.

In a period of 20 years in Bollywood, he acted in about 60 films and is a name to reckon with. His filmography includes: Yagna (2006) (filming), Shaadi No 1 (2005) (filming), Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse (2005) (post-production), Tathastu, Viruddh (2005), Dus (2005), Tango Charlie (2005), Shabd (2005), Musafir (2004), Deewaar (2004), Rudraksh (2004), Plan (2004), LOC Kargil (2003), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Annarth (2002), Hathyar (2002), Maine Dil Tujhko Diya (2002), Khalnayak and Vidhaata.

A sympathy wave swept across the country for Dutt following his immense popularity, particularly after the portrayal of Munnabhai, the pure-hearted goon who honestly tries to practice the teachings of the Mahatma. — UNI

Mumbai, July 31
Rejecting actor Sanjay Dutt's emotional plea for time to surrender after he was today given a six-year jail term in the 1993 serial blasts case, Judge P.D. Kode told the star not to lose faith in himself as he was "number one" in films.

"Act till the age of 100, I have only taken away six years," Judge Kode of the special TADA court told Dutt hours after sentencing him. Noting that Dutt was "number 1 in the film line", Kode said that he had liked the actor's performances very much and advised him to have faith in himself.

"Sir, I made a mistake 14 years ago. Please give me some time to surrender," said the actor who turned 48 on Sunday. — PTI

Mumbai, July 31
Lawyers of actor Sanjay Dutt today said they would move the Supreme Court seeking relief for him.

Dutt's counsel Satish Maneshinde said as soon as the required papers are ready, the actor's legal team would exercise the right to appeal and move the Supreme Court seeking relief.

He, however, declined to specify when they intended to file the appeal.

An operational order of the sentence is expected and it generally takes at least two days after an appeal for the matter to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court, Maneshinde said.

He said the lawyers had prepared Dutt for the likelihood of his going to jail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

"We had prepared him," Maneshinde told mediapersons when asked for his reaction to the six-year jail term given earlier in the day by the Special TADA court here.

"Sanjay Dutt was prepared for this day. We, as the legal team, are saddened by the verdict and think that the judgement is harsh," he said.

Maneshinde said they would make every effort to reinforce the legal team which already consists of a battery of senior lawyers like V.R. Manohar, Surendra Singh and Karan Singh.

He said Bollywood producers, directors and actors had already been informed of the likely predicament and had resolved to stand by Dutt just as they had done during his earlier prison term in 1993.

"Dutt has bounced back every time he has faced a crisis and this is another of those," he said. — PTI