I had heard a lot about the tough man of bollywood and the perception remained the same until I met him and discovered the true man within.

Throw him in a pit full of snakes and he will charm them and come out of the pit unscathed with a big smile and that's through his charm and not the brut force. Nargis the legendary woman as a mother and a determined and committed man Sunil Dutt as a father could not have produced a better offspring than Sanju.

He is tall dark and handsome but above all he has the most beautiful heart in the whole wide world .

You would never meet a better natured human being he has seen more ups and downs in his life than a Disney world roller coaster but he is a born survivor and every negative thing has taught him a new lesson and a new chapter has started in life after every tragedy and God has given him incredible strength in shape of family and friends and I am very proud to be one of his friends.

Born in Bombay on the 29th Jul 1956 into a home created out of shear love for each other he spent his childhood being part of this love and affection and he was given everything a child would ask for and he became a little spoilt brat but even than he always shared his toys with everyone around him and remained a loving child.

In his younger days he always had more friends than everybody else for the simple reason that he always paid attention and always had time for his friends and even the children are perceptive when it comes to differentiating between sincere and insincere people.

Sanjay is known to his friends and family as Sanju baba I first met Sanju couple of years ago he was with his wife Rhea Pillai and there was no stuffiness about her unlike some of the other super star wives I can mention.

Rhea was so pleasant that at first I thought she was just someone from London but once I got talking to her I found out that she is Sanju's wife and she is such a pleasure and a delight to meet.

I asked her if it was difficult to be married to such an incredible man but Rhea replied not at all he is a gentle giant with a heart of gold and is the easiest person to live with. Sanju could not have met anyone better than Rhea for a partner for life she is an extremely attractive, very gentle and generous person just like himself they not only support and compliment each other but also look at life with the same perspective. The perspective is humanity Rhea along with Sanju is involved with so many charities that its unbelievable coming from a financial sound background and also creating his own wealth means nothing to both of them what they love is life and people anyone who is suffering will find them both on their side.

And later on I was to discover the same truth over time that he is truly all heart. Sanju suffered very many upheavals but the worst time of his life was when he was wrongly implicated into Bombay bomb blasts and he was made to suffer for his love for humanity and his efforts to make this world a better place.

Just because he helped everyone whether they were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Christians as far as they came to him in the name of humanity he would help and not realising that some narrow minded people did not understand that regardless of their race, creed, or Religion they are all human beings.

I remember I was sitting with Sanju in a restaurant one day and an elderly man approached him and came to shake his hand he got up from his seat and greeted the old man with such love and embraced him with his typical hearty embrace that the old man had tears of joy in his eyes he asked him how his father was doing and told him that during his tribulations he always prayed for him from his heart and after few minutes he walked away and I asked if he knew him personally but Sanju laughed and said yaar all these people are true friends because of their good wishes I am still around it really made me love and respect him more and it showed his true personality.
Many a times I raised the issue with Sanju to conduct an interview with him but there was always something or the other happening but eventually I pinned him down in London Hotel and had a heart to heart with him.

Shahid ..Sanju we all know what you went through while you were in prison tell me what kept you going.

Sanju-I don't think its possible to imagine what one goes through while in prison unless you have been through it yourself what really kept me alive and strong was the love and affection I was shown during this time my Father is a tower of strength and Rhea and Dad kept me going and all other true friends kept my head high with their strengths. Some of the hanger-ons and fair weather friends disappeared thinking this was the end of Sanju as they knew it but God is great this difficult time not only sorted insincere people out of my life but also taught me a great deal and made me even more committed to my resolve for helping the down and out.

I had people writing to me from all around the world supporting me and telling me how much they loved me and how they were praying for me I never really felt alone in prison I had all the love and support in the world and I had my thoughts to help. It also calmed me down I used to be like a lion in a cage I learnt to be patient and learnt to respect and value life deeply.

Shahid-while in prison did u ever feel like giving up acting?

Sanju-yes millions of things went through my mind I thought about acting a great deal but its what I love and live hence I was just waiting to get out and make a come back with a vengeance

Shahid-you have been through a lot of upheaval in your life particularly when your mom passed away and than you ended up in drugs scene how did you get there and what made you come back to reality?

Sanju-yes Mom was the best thing ever its her loss which I think I would never be able to fully recover from after that I always felt a part of my heart very empty and that will always remain so.
You know people who have their moms are very lucky there is no alternative to a mothers love particularly a mother like mine who was made of pure love. That love has grown in shape of me and I think there is nothing more in life that.

Getting into drugs scene was an ordeal started as a laugh as everyone else in the circle was trying it but I was able to kick it and bounce back unfortunately many people either don't have the strength or the backing to kick the habit and they suffer a lot. I would advise all the people to never do things in excesses it will not only murky you own future but also all your loved ones would suffer too and steer away from drugs and alcohol.

Shahid-you have made a successful comeback into to the top of bollywood where many people say you truly belong how do you feel about that.

Sanju-well that's nice to hear that people think I belong to the top I feel great being able to make a come back it's not been all an easy ride but it's worth it.Lots of people in the industry have helped me through it and credit again goes the family and close friends and of course the biggest credit goes to my fans all around the world.

Shahid-you are always in lime light media is always hounding you what is your reaction to that

Sanju-I do not try to be in the limelight but I suppose this is how my life has turned out to be
I do not think media hounds me they are only doing their jobs and when so many people around the world want to know what's happening in my life that gives them added interest in me. I have many friends who are journalists you are an example you are a friend despite the fact that you are a journalist………………….hahahahahahahahah

Shahid-you have millions of fans in Pakistan how much longer will they have to wait to greet you in Pakistan?

Sanju-yes I get lots of fan mail from Pakistan and have been invited many a times to visit Pakistan and as soon as practical I would love to visit and spend a good few days there seeing all the places and meeting all the people who have showered me with love over the years. And do not forget you have promised me to join me there and take me to all the happening places in Lahore.

Shahid-it would be my pleasure and delight to show you around my home town but do you think there is possibility of a concert while you visit?

Sanju-I think there are some moves a foot to organise a concerts in Pakistan but I think things will need to improve politically first and I would be honoured to perform in Pakistan.

Shahid-many an artists are crossing borders into Bollywood to launch themselves at a bigger stage what do you think of that?

Sanju-yes it's a very good thing after all we are one people we are all humans and lets make this a friendly neighbourhood where we help each other this mixture of talent is a very good news for the poor people of both countries and I think it should be applauded.

Shahid-what is the most important thing in your life?

Sanju-the most important thing in my life without a doubt is love, love and love. Life is too short not to give and take love and spread happiness. The most important thing is to be a human being and to share happiness

Shahid-it was a pleasure like always to be with you and talk to you

Sanju-it was a pleasure to talk to you too and don't forget the bill…………. a huge laugh full of life followed……..yaar I am only kidding…………………

Shahid-you better be. …Hahahahhaahahahaahahahhah

You could not meet a man more full of life and happiness and looking back all the adverse situations he has been through have made him a richer and better person in spiritual sense.
Sanjay Dutt is more like a saint than an actor he has time for everyone and he greets everyone with a smile and you can tell it's a sincere smile. I truly believe there is no better man in bollywood than Sanju.