Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt were among Bollywood’s most talked-about pairs during the early ’90s, having shared the screen in Saajan and several other films. But behind the camera, their personal bond hit turbulence when Sanjay was arrested in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts. According to senior author and film historian Hanif Zaveri, the arrest created a clear divide between the two stars — one that played out in a very public way.
The party she quietly skipped
Zaveri recalled an incident from a party organised by Mahaanta director Afzal Khan shortly after Sanjay’s release on bail. The event was meant to be a media spectacle, presenting Madhuri and Sanjay together for the first time post-arrest.“There was a stage on one side, and a table with chairs on the other. Madhuri entered with her secretary and a few others, but instead of heading to the stage, they sat near me,” Zaveri told Meri Saheli.He continued, “I noticed they seemed anxious, and assumed they would eventually join the cast. But Madhuri and her group got up and left. All the photographers were waiting for that first photo of Madhuri and Sanjay together. I knew why she left — she didn’t want to be photographed with him.”
Family pressures and personal fears
The historian also offered context on Madhuri’s personal life at the time. Her mother had been eager for her to settle down, first suggesting singer Suresh Wadkar and later doctor Sriram Nene. But Madhuri’s priority was safety and distance amid Sanjay’s legal troubles.“She was afraid she would be investigated too,” Zaveri explained. Despite the fallout, Madhuri and Sanjay eventually reunited on screen decades later in Kalank, proving that while time may heal some wounds, certain memories remain vivid in Bollywood’s history.
