The relationship between Bollywood and politics has also been very interesting. But there are very few Bollywood celebrities who went into politics and played a long and brilliant innings. Sunil Dutt was one of them. Who was MP many times. He became a minister and his innings as a hero on the silver screen was also amazing. This story is as interesting as it is filmy. This story is from 1999 elections.
Such a situation arose during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections when Sanjay Dutt agreed to campaign against his father Sunil Dutt. At that time Sunil Dutt was contesting from Mumbai North-West seat on Congress ticket. There was some discord going on between Sanjay Dutt and his father in those days. His father was unhappy with his personal life and marriage.
It was because of his son that Sunil Dutt had burnt his hands a lot in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. That was the most difficult period of his life. A man who was known for his patriotism and social work had to face taunts of being a “traitor” because of his own son. Sanjay Dutt was put in jail.
Sunil Dutt was a powerful Congress leader and MP at that time. After Sanjay’s arrest, the opposition, especially Shiv Sena and BJP, launched sharp attacks on him. Due to this pressure and differences with some leaders of his own party, he resigned from his MP post in 1993.
People used to change their path after seeing him
Sunil Dutt later told in an interview that when Sanjay was in jail, many of his close friends and people from the film industry had kept distance from him. Even in the corridors of Parliament, people used to change their path after seeing him. He was deeply saddened that the city and country he served were looking at him with suspicion.
During that period, the Dutt family used to receive death threats over the phone. Once Sunil Dutt was so broken that he said, “I have worked so much for the country, encouraged the soldiers on the borders, and today I and my family are being called traitors.”
then they risked everything
Sunil Dutt was a staunch soldier of Congress all his life, but when his own party withdrew from helping him in Sanjay’s case, he was forced to go to his political rival Bal Thackeray. Bal Thackeray helped Sanjay. Sunil Dutt’s savings and a lot of time were spent in fighting Sanjay Dutt’s legal case. They used to stand outside the courts for hours. Used to stand in queues to meet Sanjay in jail. As a father, he had risked everything to save his son.
Sunil Dutt’s stature is evident from the fact that he did not break down despite so much insult. Later returned to politics again. Won with huge votes. Also became a Union Minister.
Sanjay Dutt said yes to campaign against his father
Later, a very close relationship developed between Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and Sanjay Dutt. The reason for this was that Bal Thackeray gave a lot of support to Sanjay when he was stuck in legal troubles. Taking advantage of this proximity, Shiv Sena invited Sanjay Dutt to campaign in support of its candidate, who was standing against none other than his father.
Sanjay Dutt had to stay in jail for a long time during the Mumbai bomb case.
This was the time when Sanjay was angry with his father due to family differences. According to reports, Sanjay Dutt, out of anger or emotion, had said ‘yes’ to campaigning against his father. Later in “Kapil Sharma Show” Sanjay Dutt admitted that this had happened. He had agreed to campaign against the Shiv Sena candidate.
Then who explained to Sanjay
As soon as this news came in the media, there was a stir. Then something happened behind the curtain that Sanjay Dutt pulled his feet back. He did not go for election campaign against his father. Sanjay’s sister Priya Dutt mediated. Explained to Sanjay that political differences have their place but it would not be right to go against his father.
Sunil Dutt was very hurt that his son was going to campaign against him. Although he did not say anything on this. Maintained restraint in public. Ultimately family dignity won. Sanjay Dutt did not campaign against his father. Sanjay instead sent his close friend Sunil Shetty for election campaign.
Then Sanjay sent his friend
Then Sunil Shetty campaigned for Sunil Dutt’s rival and Shiv Sena candidate Madhukar Sarpotdar in that election. Sunil Shetty gave this stand that he respects Bal Thackeray a lot. When he did this, Sunil Dutt was unhappy with him. Coincidentally, he had reached Kapil Sharma Show with Sanjay Dutt. He quipped that he was stuck between father and son. However, Sunil Shetty always kept it clear that he has immense respect for Sunil Dutt.
Father and sister were MPs
Sunil Dutt won that election. Kept its reputation intact. However, both Sunil Dutt and his daughter Priya Dutt had very influential political careers. Sunil Dutt remained MP for a total of 17 years. He used to contest elections from Mumbai North-West seat. In the year 2004, he became the ‘Youth Affairs and Sports Minister’ in the Manmohan Singh government. He held this post till his death on 25 May 2005.
Priya Dutt remained MP from her father’s seat, North West Mumbai, for a total of about 9 years. He had to face defeat in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Currently she is associated with social work and ‘Nargis Dutt Foundation’.
Why did Sanjay keep fighting elections?
Sanjay Dutt also kept fighting elections. Sanjay Dutt officially joined Samajwadi Party in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The party declared him the candidate from Lucknow. He also started campaigning vigorously. But the Supreme Court refused to stay his sentence because he was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. The court’s argument was that a convicted person cannot be allowed to contest elections.
Because of this Sanjay Dutt’s nomination was cancelled. In her place, Samajwadi Party fielded Nafisa Ali. Sanjay Dutt did not contest the elections, but he became the General Secretary of Samajwadi Party at that time. Campaigned for many candidates. Now he stays away from politics.
