Shatrughan Sinha on Sanjay Dutt’s release, Bal Thackeray’s role and their lost connection: "We tried reaching him, but he is not meeting us"- Exclusive

Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha recently attended a book launch event, where he reflected on the past, recalling his close association with Sanjay Dutt, Rajan Lall, and Sunil Dutt. Speaking about Sanjay Dutt, Sinha expressed his sentiments about the actor’s absence from their circle in recent years.
In an exclusive statement to ETimes, Shatrughan Sinha shared," We were truly worried about Sanjay Dutt back in the day—how to support him and what we could do to bring him out of the jail. It was my honor that the 'Tiger of Maharashtra' or the father figure of Maharashtra, Balasaheb Thackeray, gave me his blessings and helped us arrange a meeting with Sanjay. Balasaheb’s contribution was immense in Sanjay Dutt’s case and in securing his release from jail."
Reflecting on their past meetings, Sinha added."I wish Sanjay Dutt was here with us today at this event—it would have been nice. I remember, after his release from jail, he first came to my house, and later, we all gathered at Rajan Lall’s place, where we blessed him."
However, Sinha also revealed an unexpected change in their interactions over the years, "After that, there was a twist. We tried reaching him, but Dutt’s son is not meeting us. We have often said ‘Dhoondhte reh jaoge’—but that does not mean he is not a good boy. There may be reasons or personal problems that are keeping him away, or maybe he is just super busy," he added.

While Sinha’s words carried a hint of nostalgia and disappointment, he maintained a tone of understanding, acknowledging that time and circumstances change relationships. Whether Sanjay Dutt will respond to this heartfelt message remains to be seen.
Sanjay Dutt, fondly known as Baba, has had a dynamic Bollywood career spanning over four decades. From romantic roles to action-packed performances and comedy, he has showcased immense versatility.
He made his debut with ‘Rocky’ (1981) and gained recognition with ‘Naam’ (1986). The ’90s established him as an action star with ‘Sadak’ (1991), ‘Saajan’ (1991), and the cult classic ‘Khalnayak’ (1993). Post-legal battles, he made a strong comeback with ‘Vaastav’ (1999), the iconic ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ (2003), and its sequel ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ (2006). In recent years, he impressed with villainous roles in ‘Agneepath’ (2012), ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ (2022), and ‘Shamshera’ (2022). Despite personal struggles, Sanjay Dutt remains one of Bollywood’s most enduring stars.