The dichotomy of being Sanjay Dutt

If there is one word to describe the life and times of Sanjay Dutt, it is dichotomy. His debut movie, Rocky, hit screens within a few days of his mother's death. I remember watching an interview of his where Dutt told father Sunil that he didn't know whether to be happy or sad about the occasion. Indeed, it must've been a tumultous period for the young man whose mother was adamant on attending the movie premiere. But, the will of God deemed otherwise. 

A few months later, Sanjay's tryst with drug abuse was disclosed and Sunil Dutt checked him into a rehab clinic in America. This time, it was the public which was baffled about how to react: should it dismiss the young man's misdeeds as workings of an immature mind and disturbed mind? Or should it react angrily about how the son of a well-respected politician and movie star be indulging in such illegal activities? 

Cut to 1993. As Bombay burned in the winter of the January riots that year, it was found that Sanjay possessed dangerous weapons such as AK-53 rifles and grenades. Even more shocking was the revelation that these weapons had been given to him by Abu Salem, the notorious underworld don. Sanjay was arrested under TADA and the Arms Act. In his defence, the actor, now a star in his own right and a mature 34 years old, pleaded that he had received death threats and hence bought the weapons. Again, the dichotomy was visible: shouldn't a man-in this case, a son of a politician and a public figure in his own right-have acted with maturity and responsibility? Or was the threat to his half-Hindu half-Muslim lineage so grave that he had no option but to take such an extreme step? Add Khalnayak (and later Vaastav) to his kitty and his errant son-turned-notorious gangster image reached its pinnacle. 

It is Circa 2005 and father Sunil Dutt passes away, leaving behind a political legacy which would create yet another dichotomy for Sanjay. Is he the right person to continue the legacy?Logically speaking, yes, as he is the most visible face of the family now. But, given his troubled past, will he be able to uphold his father's name or will he tarnish his image of an honest politician? Well, it hasn't been proved that he's a criminal and there are many politicians who've had worse track records than Sanjay's. But, is he mature enough to tackle the rough and tumble of public life? At 45, of course he is. Eventually, it was sister Priya who was chosen to continue her father's work and it seemed Sanjay could breathe in peace. But only for a while.

July 2007. The TADA court finds Sanjay guilty under the Arms Act and for illegal possession of weapons. What follows is another dichotomous reaction from the public. Has the judge been fair on Dutt by sentencing him for five years? Of course he has. In fact, its a good example as all public figures will now think twice before messing around with the law. But he's Munnabhai and he was naive when he committed the crime! His movie career cannot be the reason for pardon and at 34 he was naive. You must be joking! (Mahesh Bhatt did agree with the last argument in a piece he did for Tehelka)

Cut to January 2009. Amar Singh, the Samajwadi Party's general secretary announces that Sanjay Dutt will be the party's candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow. Dichotomy time again. He's convicted by a TADA court and is out on bail. So are many other MP's and MLA's? What's the big deal? His maturity and responsibility levels have been under constant scrutiny and he reportedly doesn't get along with sister Priya-the torchbearer of his father's legacy. Well, he's 47 now, married again and is willing to serve the people. What more proof does one want of his responsibility and maturity? And family feuds are common in Indian politics. Nothing new.

So will this latest episode reduce, if not end, the dichotomy in Sanjay Dutt's life? Or will he be questioned, debated about, analysed and post-mortemed by the public and the media about each of his decisions? 

Only time will tell.