Hey Baba!

Jasmine Singh

Finally, finally... the Baba of Bollywood, Sanjay Dutt returns home amidst the dancing and singing well-wishers, who were present outside his house to welcome him. On the other side, the entire film fraternity is busy tweeting their heartfelt welcome back messages. When all this khushi ka mahaul was underway, we hear that a public interest litigation was filed in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday challenging his early release on remission, alleging that the 56-year-old actor was getting preferential treatment. We can only imagine how Sanjay Dutt would have reacted to it, Bole to bus karo abhi, he would have murmured. But come to think, is Sanjay Dutt paying the price for being a celebrity? Every move while on his parole, every twitch of his being questioned. Would anyone have cared to file a PIL had Sanjay Dutt been an aam Sanjay Dutt? People have much to say on this. Over to them...

Bhai throws party for Munnabhai  

Salman Khan has always been a steady support to Sanjay Dutt and his family. Now, when Munnabhai is coming back after remission in his five-year sentence, Salman has made a perfect plan to welcome the 56-year-old actor with a lavish party in attendance of close family and friends at his Panvel farmhouse. Salman has even sent four bodyguards to the Mumbai airport to escort Sanjay the whole day. —ANI

Let him be

A celebrity always has to pay a price for being famous. I wouldn’t say that Sanjay Dutt went to prison because he is a star, he obviously committed a crime for which now he has completed his sentence. Why on earth are we going after his life with all guns blazing? He has paid for his mistakes! 

Priyanka Madaan, student of management studies 

Have a life 

I don't understand two things, one, why do Indians have an opinion on everything, and two, why do we keep interfering in others lives.  Is the release of Sanjay Dutt one day or two days in advance a matter of national importance? Does his release pose a security threat to the country or let's say had he been released on the same date, exact time, Sanjay Dutt's months in jail would be better justified?                

Kanwar Rana, student of Law 

Cost price 

I would call this petition outright uncalled for. We have seen and also heard that actor Sanjay Dutt has already spent enough time in the jail for the wrong he did. Now, filing a PIL that he got a better treatment in jail and that he got away early, is so not in good taste. I think we all know that many politicians enjoy favours in jails. In fact haven't we heard of stories of people paying money in jails to get better facilities? Sanjay Dutt is just paying the price for being a celebrity, he and his life will always be under the spotlight no matter what he does. 

Rajat Thukral, BA second year student

Law is law 

No one is above the law, so why should celebrities be spared? An actor or anyone can’t just walk out of jail before completing his term. Do you think, had it been a common man, he would have walked out before the release date? I think media should boycott tracking down celebrities who have some black spot on them. Why give them so much weight?    

Sanyam Setia, MBA student 

Why us?

How many examples do we want of celebrities, industrialists and politicians walking out scot-free after committing a crime? Why should 'a' celebrity actor be favoured because he is an actor? I don't think the police or law would be soft on a common man. We know of stories of people who served imprisonment for years even when they were not guilty. Try hauling up a celebrity, and put him behind bars, will it go unnoticed.   Abhishek Narang, BA second year student 

jasmine@tribunemail.com