On the birth anniversary of the late actor and politician Sunil Dutt, it is fitting to revisit a lesser-known yet deeply emotional chapter from his life as a father. Long before Sanjay Dutt emerged as one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, he was battling personal demons that threatened to derail both his life and career. During that difficult period, Sunil Dutt reportedly made repeated appeals to filmmaker Rajiv Rai to give his son another opportunity after he was dropped from the film *Yudh*.Rajiv Rai, who shared a close friendship with Sanjay and the Dutt family, had previously opened up about the painful decision. At the time, Sanjay was struggling with substance abuse, which began affecting his professional commitments. Despite their strong bond, Rajiv felt compelled to prioritize the film and Sanjay’s well-being.Recalling those days, Rajiv said as quoted by Moneycontrol, “I shot 14 reels with Sanjay Dutt. In my heart of hearts, he’s still my best friend. I can never forget those days, because they were the best days of my life.”Although Sanjay had already completed a substantial portion of the shoot, his worsening condition became a growing concern. Rajiv revealed that the actor eventually required treatment and rehabilitation in the United States. Wanting to intervene before things spiraled further, he discussed the situation with Sunil Dutt. “Sanjay was not well. He needed rehab in Florida. I spoke to his father and told him to get him out of this,” Rajiv recalled.For Rajiv, removing Sanjay from the project was not simply a professional decision but one he believed was necessary for his friend’s future. “If I had not taken this drastic step then, he wouldn’t have made the changes in his life. I had to forgot my friendship with him,” he said.What made the situation even more heartbreaking was Sunil Dutt’s determination to protect his son’s career. According to Rajiv, the veteran actor was deeply distressed by the circumstances and repeatedly urged him to reconsider.Rajiv remembered, “I would sit with Dutt saab, and he didn’t want Sanju to be removed. He’d keep requesting me to give him another chance. He was very upset about the situation as well. But I told him that he needs the electric shock.”Despite the fallout, Rajiv insisted that his decision was never driven by anger or resentment. He maintained that it was ultimately made with Sanjay’s best interests at heart, even if it came at the cost of their friendship.Reflecting on their relationship, he said, “Things didn’t work out professionally between me and Sanju, and it was for his own good. He may love me for it or hate me for it, but I don’t know, because we’ve never spoken about it.”Sanjay Dutt eventually returned from rehab and rebuilt his life and career, overcoming numerous setbacks along the way. His journey remains one of Hindi cinema’s most remarkable stories of resilience and redemption.On Sunil Dutt’s birth anniversary, the episode serves as a reminder that beyond the celebrated actor and respected public figure was a devoted father, doing everything he could to help his son through one of the darkest periods of his life.
